Brief Research Commentary: The US Indigenous Food Sovereignty Movement’s Impact on Understandings of COVID-19 in Indian Country

Journal Article (Journal Article)

This research commentary provides an overview of contemporary anthropological research regarding the US Indigenous food sovereignty movement and demonstrates how it informs the impacts of COVID-19 on Indian Country. Past anthropological research on US Indigenous foodways, while useful, has lacked US Indigenous voices and in-depth political context. Alternatively, many current Indigenous scholars prioritize integration of this crucial political landscape, thus increasing the relevancy and application of this work. For this review, I begin by coalescing a selection of these recent research developments, primarily focusing on research undertaken by Indigenous scholars currently in, and affiliated with, anthropology. I then connect the ways in which their ethnographic and community-based findings shed insight into challenges that arose during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Finally, I critique anthropology’s lack of support for these research projects and offer suggestions regarding future US Indigenous food sovereignty research directions.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Lewis, C

Published Date

  • December 1, 2021

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 43 / 2

Start / End Page

  • 107 - 113

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1556-486X

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 2153-9553

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1111/cuag.12280

Citation Source

  • Scopus