The Muckleshoot Food Sovereignty Project: Revitalizing Northwest Coastal Indian Food Culture

Roots, berries, elk, and salmon were at the center of traditional food culture for the Coat Salish people of the Pacific Northwest. During colonization these foods were replaced with a diet of a modern and dominant culture.  Consequently degenerative diseases like diabetes and heart disease now negatively impact tribal communities. The Muckleshoot Food Sovereignty Project (MFSP) aims to address barriers to accessing traditional foods in order to increase the health of the community. This community-based project is currently being implemented on the Muckleshoot reservation in Washington State. Community members collectively focus on the crucial role tribal culture plays in successfully defining healthy food behaviors and the importance of revitalizing traditional food systems. Through encouraging community members to reclaim control of their food system, MFSP supports the return to models of living which are sustainable and that grow out the basic concepts of caring, equality and respect for all.