Accessing Lummi Local, Native and Traditional Plants for Diabetes Prevention

This intervention research takes place within the Lummi Indian Nation, a Coast Salish tribe in northwestern Washington State. We seek to empower health behaviors through (1) exposure to traditional and local foods, (2) nutritional education, and (3) promoting sovereignty in food acquisition and preparation. Twenty Lummi Reservation households receive community supported agriculture (CSA) produce boxes containing locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Some of these foods are traditional Lummi plant foods, others are convenient nutritional substitutes for foraged plants. The families also participate in social events with workshops that relate local foods to Lummi traditional culture, present recipes developed by tribal cooks, and offer nutrition education. Customized Lummi Food Frequencies Questionnaires (FFQ) are administered in intervals to evaluate the Lummi diet, highlight foods for a lifestyle intervention, and measure the effects of the intervention. Here we discuss first-round results of food frequencies, and participants’ goals and perceptions of the project.