Celebrating Tradition & Empowering Futures

Uniting Tribal Communities for Food Sovereignty, Economic Development, & Resilience

The first annual Northwest Intertribal Food Sovereignty Summit—hosted by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe with organizing partners Tahoma Peak Solutions, the Nez Perce Tribe, the University of Idaho Extension Coeur d’Alene Office, University of Idaho Extension Nez Perce Office, Wisteqn’eemit, and Arrowleaf Consulting—brought together Indigenous communities to celebrate and promote food sovereignty.

The Northwest Intertribal Food Sovereignty Summit was held at the Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Hotel, gathering Tribal community leaders, youth, elders, Tribal food enterprises, Native food entrepreneurs, Native food producers, traditional food champions, funders, government agencies, and others to discuss, share, and learn about Tribal food economies, small business development, climate resilience, and youth engagement in food systems and tradition. Youth had a unique opportunity to learn from experts in the field and get hands-on skill-building experiences through workshops and presentations—which even adults found value in joining.

In addition to focused educational sessions and panel discussions, the four-day agenda featured cultural celebrations, food tours, and break-out sessions—providing an engaging and communal atmosphere for Indigenous peoples to share knowledge and foster relationships across generations. Attendees experienced Linda Black Elk’s cooking demonstration on preparing spiced bison skewers with coconut yogurt sauce, a visit to Spokane’s modern Native American restaurant, “Indigenous Eats,” a screening of “Covenant of the Salmon People,” an impromptu plant walk, an impressive showcase of Indigenous vendors, and celebrations that highlighted the rich heritage of both the Coeur D’Alene and Nez Perce Tribes. The summit closed with an enriching cultural sharing event, and attendees warmly embarked with relationships and knowledge vital to the health of Native communities and cultures.

The Northwest Intertribal Food Sovereignty Summit was the first of its scale for the region—uniting over 300 attendees and exemplifying the power of collective action in advancing food sovereignty. As Tahoma Peak Solutions reflects on the summit’s impact, we look forward to continuing our collaborative partnerships and initiatives to center Tribal food sovereignty and uplift local and regional food systems.