Working towards Preserving and Restoring the Healthy Food System and Agriculture Traditions of the Hopi and Tewa People
Vision
The Coalition serves the Hopi and Tewa people by reaffirming and preserving traditional farming practices that create a path to a healthy lifestyle.
Goals
Our goals is to support methods of agriculture, food distribution, and food consumption that are healthy for Hopi individuals and their communities that include:
• Encourage and support traditional, sustainable farming practices through outreach and education.
• Increase the availability of fresh, sustainably grown produce to Hopi families.
• Encourage Hopi to eat foods that promote health in themselves and their communities.
• Support the growth and preservation of local food production.
• Identify opportunities to restore food self sufficiency at Hopi.
• Create local employment opportunities related to agriculture and food distribution.
Belief
The overall health and well-being of the Hopi people cannot be addressed without an improvement in diet and commensurate restoration of their local food system. In order to meet our objectives, the Natwani Coalition has leveraged varying levels of engagement from volunteers, collaborators and institutions on and off the reservation. Our strategy is to launch mutually reinforcing projects that over time will collectively restore the local food system.
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 Natwani literally means “produce” or “vegetables,” but more significantly, it refers to the processes and rituals necessary for the rejuvenation of all life. It is the intact web of obligation and activity involved in the planting, harvesting, processing, hunting and gathering of food. It is physical and spiritual sustenance. Initiatives
The Coalition has been instrumental in starting or contributing to a number of projects related to the restoration of the Hopi food system. By launching a broad-based campaign that approaches food system restoration from multiple angles, we've been able to activate a wide constituency around our efforts.
The Natwani Coalition has built a network of partnerships that share the same vision in revitalizing and preserving traditional methods in Hopi agriculture and the Hopi food system.
• The Hopi Foundation
• Hopi Health Care Center
• Hopi Department of Health Services
• Hopi Special Diabetes Program
• Hopi Department of Natural Resources
• Hopi Cultural Preservation Office
• Hopi Office of Youth Affairs
• Northern Arizona University Center for Sustainable Environments
• University of Arizona Extension
• The Village of Tewa
• US Department of Agriculture
• The Christensen Fund
• Individual Volunteers
Contact the Natwani Coalition at 928.734.2390 for more information. |
