Indigenous food sovereignty topic of WSU talk Nov. 7

Washington State University professor Landon Charlo and Colville Tribe member and extension officer Linda McLean will discuss "Indigenous food sovereignty across international, national, and local settings" at a 3 p.m. Nov. 7 virtual event, moderated by Zoe Higheagle Strong, vice provost for Native American Relations and Programs.

To receive the Zoom link to join the talk, registration is required.

The event is co-hosted by the WSU Common Reading Program. The talk has strong ties to this year's common reading book for university students, How the Other Half Eats: 's Untold Story of Food and Inequality in America.

"As November is Native American Heritage Month, we are especially pleased to offer this timely and important presentation to the WSU community featuring WSU experts," said Karen Weathermon, director of First-Year Programs, which includes the Common Reading Program.

Weathermon said presenters will discuss Indigenous food sovereignty at several different strata of conceptualization and practice, from general meanings that have developed historically and internationally, to local contexts of the Colville Reservation.

Charlo is an assistant professor in the School of the Environment. His research focuses on Native American food systems, traditional ecological knowledge, and tribal environmental policy.

McLean leads education and outreach programs for WSU's Colville Reservation Extension office in Nespelem, Wash. She is an advocate for youth, agriculture, and food sovereignty, and is a 4-H educator. She received the administrative professional technical staff excellence award from the College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences in 2024.

This talk is one of a several events taking place in recognition of Native American Heritage Month. Other events include the inaugural Ruth and Loren Olsen Festival of Native American Music with artist-in-residence Conner Chee, a Navajo composer and pianist; a panel discussion, "We Are Still Here: Native American Diversity in Heritage and Research"; and a two-part workshop on developing genuine tribal engagement and collaborative research with tribal partners.