LANSING (Michigan, United States): Michigan State University (MSU) and the University of Michigan (UoM) will co-host the first Indigenous Food Sovereignty Summit in April 2026.
The summit will be held on the MSU campus in East Lansing from April 6 to 8. The event is expected to be attended by tribal leaders, farmers, scholars and advocates to discuss indigenous perspectives and to craft pathways for self-determined and sustainable food systems. The summit is expected to draw participants from across the Great Lakes region and beyond to discuss challenges and opportunities in revitalizing traditional food systems and strengthening community health.
Food sovereignty is a concept rooted in the right of peoples to healthy, culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods. It has gained traction among indigenous communities seeking to reclaim ancestral food systems eroded by colonial policies and industrial agriculture. Experts note that indigenous food sovereignty encompasses not just access to food, but stewardship of land, water and seeds, and decision-making authority over production and distribution. It also reflects the value placed on caring for the land and all living beings. The summit aims to reflect these principles by centering voices and priorities identified by tribal producers, nations and community partners.
The agenda for the summit agenda includes workshops on traditional food and harvesting practices, seed saving, land stewardship and policy advocacy. Participants will engage in discussions on strengthening Indigenous food economies, strategies for intergenerational knowledge transfer and building alliances that reinforce cultural resilience. Organizers also plan cultural performances, ceremonies honoring the land and local Indigenous vendors to showcase community food producers and artisans.
The summit will generate practical skills and collaborative networks to support sustainable and just food systems. By bringing together academic institutions, tribal governments, food producers and advocacy groups, the event seeks to bridge research and practice while building long-term support structures for tribal food sovereignty initiatives.
MSU is a land-grant institution and has a mission to support communities through education, research and outreach connected to agriculture, food systems and stewardship of the land.
The gathering reflects a broader movement among Indigenous communities to reclaim food systems as foundational to health, cultural continuity and autonomous governance. It comes amid growing recognition of the impacts of historical dislocation, environmental degradation and policy barriers on tribal food systems. By facilitating dialogue and cooperation, organizers hope the summit will contribute to sustained efforts to revitalize Indigenous food systems and inform policy at regional and national levels.
The co-hosts for the summit include MSU’s Native American Institute and MSU Extension and UoM’s Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum.
Registration and other details of the summit can be obtained here.
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