Over the course of this season, our guests have helped us understand the history of disruption and provided essential context for why the Indigenous food movement is necessary. In this last episode for season 1, we talk with Anishinaabe farmer and food producer Rosebud Bear Schneider about the joys and challenges of revitalizing cultural foodways in the present day. Rosebud gives us a glimpse into what food sovereignty work looks like in a contemporary, urban context-- how people are practicing place-based foodways in the City of Detroit, the challenges related to this, and what gives her strength to continue this intergenerational work.

Spirit Plate is part of the Whetstone Radio Collective. Learn more about Spirit Plate here.

Find show notes here.

During the Termination Era (the early 1950s to late 1960s), the U.S. government passed legislation stating that they would no longer recognize Tribal governments as sovereign nations and began incentivizing the relocation of Native peoples to urban centers across the country. Dr. Martin Reinhardt tells us about the Termination Act of 1953 and Indian Relocation Act of 1956, and the devastating effects they had on treaty rights and Indigenous peoples’ foodways. Dr. Reinhardt also talks about how this attempt to suppress Indigenous sovereignty led to a new era of inter-tribal activism. These growing Red Power movements advocated for Tribal self-determination and demanded the restoration of treaty rights. The building activism that occurred during these years led to a new era in policy and the restoration of many treaty rights.

Spirit Plate is part of the Whetstone Radio Collective. Learn more about Spirit Plate here.

Find show notes here.

During the Indian Reorganization Era, which took place between the late 1920s through the 1930s, the U.S. government began winding down its assimilation policies and made moves to reaffirm Tribal self-governance. The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, also known as the Indian New Deal, had three main goals: strengthen Tribal self-governance, reconsolidate tribal lands, and promote economic development. The Indian Reorganization Act did emphasize the need to involve Native peoples when the federal government made policies affecting their communities and it provided some new opportunities for self-governance. However, oversight from the Bureau of Indian Affairs continued a long history of paternalism and left little room for Tribal governance based on cultural values and protocols. Few Native individuals or communities were able to become financially self-sustaining as a result of this “Indian New Deal.” In the present day, many have mixed positions and opinions of how well these goals were achieved/realized.

Spirit Plate is part of the Whetstone Radio Collective. Learn more about Spirit Plate here.

Find show notes here.