|
Dear Food & Agriculture Friends,
This year has brought to surface the need for reconciliation and restorative justice, to hold the uncomfortable conversations, to address our past wrongs and our current biases head on, and to begin creating change in order to create a vibrant, equitable future for everyone. I (Katie) was reminded recently by Tribal Extension Educator, Ted Hibbeler, of the Indigenous peoples’ relationship to their living ancestors like the Earth, plants, and the buffalo, which provided the nourishment for life. He says, ”We understand the concept that ‘we are all related,’ and that the original stories that were passed down through the generations informed us as to the purpose of our relationship with all living beings that share this world with us. In other words, ‘All my relations thank you.’”
To many Americans, food has become another item on the to-do list, to quickly fill our bellies and never mind the nourishment. However, times are changing. Awareness and action are brewing. The relationships with our farmers who work the ground and with the soil from which our food comes matters. As Wendell Berry said,
“Eating… is inescapably an agricultural act, and how we eat determines, to a considerable extent, how the world is used.”
Let’s let our actions and our collective impact honor the Indigenous people who taught us to care for the land which we took for our own, and let it serve as a reminder of our work and activism in the food system. Let us continue to hold the policy makers and large corporations responsible for the current food system and continue to be motivated toward systemic change. Dr. Maya Angelou said,
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
Let’s learn, let’s do better, and let’s inspire those around us to do the same. 2020 may have been far from what any of us would have imagined or planned, and yet, we’re still here, and we’ve much to be grateful for. As the fields enter this season of rest and recuperation, may we too find some rest, some time to honor the people that were here before us, and some time and resources to help others.
We wish you peace this holiday season, and a prosperous and healthy New Year.
The Nebraska Regional Food Systems Team
Ben, John, Katie, Lisa, Rex, Tara, Ted and Vanessa
|
