Northern Michigan University will host the 2025 Indigenous Perspectives Symposium on Food, a gathering focused on uplifting Indigenous food systems, cultural knowledge and community health, on Thursday, Oct. 23, at the Northern Center. A free showing of the comedy-horror movie "Seeds" will precede the symposium at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, in Jamrich Hall 1100. Writer, director and star Kaniehtiio Horn (Mohawk), who has appeared in the "Letterkenny" and "Reservation Dogs" TV series, will participate in a conversation after the viewing.
The symposium brings together Indigenous knowledge keepers, tribal food sovereignty leaders, scholars, students and community members to engage in deep dialogue and hands-on learning. Through presentations, workshops, panels and culinary experiences, the event explores the living relationships between land, food, identity and resilience.
"The NMU Center for Native American Studies is excited to help support and participate in this year's Indigenous perspectives symposium centered on food," said April Lindala, Center for Native American Studies department head and professor. "This focus on food supports the ongoing momentum behind the Decolonizing Diet Project, as well as regional efforts towards food sovereignty and security."
Event Highlights Include:
- Keynote & Featured Presentations – Talks by Indigenous food and ecological experts such as Roger LaBine (wild rice restoration), Jennifer Gauthier (Menominee sustainability frameworks), Stephanie Dodge (Great Lakes intertribal food systems) and leaders in tribal food sovereignty.
- Workshops & Panel Discussions – Sessions on topics like manoomin (wild rice) revitalization, food policy, decolonizing diets, land-based education and traditional ecological knowledge.
- Culinary Experiences – A decolonizing diet-inspired luncheon, performances and an evening chef-led dining experience celebrating Indigenous foodways in collaboration with the Marquette Food Co-op.
- Interactive Land-Based Activities – Opportunities for attendees to engage directly with Indigenous harvesting practices, processing traditions and land-based learning.
- Special Cultural Performance by Woodland Sky Native American Dance Company – A powerful performance that celebrates Anishinaabe and other Great Lakes tribal traditions through storytelling, regalia and dance.
Through this symposium, NMU will provide a platform for Indigenous narratives to guide conversations around food, culture and environment. As stated on the event website, NMU acknowledges its location on the ancestral homelands of the Anishinaabe Three Fires Confederacy.
The symposium is partially sponsored by Flagstar Bank and Kewadin Casinos. It is open to the public and particularly welcomes Indigenous community members, students, educators, researchers and media. Registration is required due to limited capacity.
To register, and to view the full schedule and speaker biographies, visit NMU's Indigenous Perspectives Symposium website: https://nmu.edu/indigenous-perspectives-symposium/.