Creating Positive Partnerships for Agricultural Programs Within Native Nations in Oklahoma

This research looks at the agricultural systems of four Oklahoma-based Native nations and the College of the Muscogee Nation, while looking at how partnerships impact the development of these programs

Creating Future Agricultural Leaders Within Native Nations of Oklahoma

This research looks at the agricultural history and current agricultural systems of four Oklahoma-based Native nations and the College of the Muscogee Nation. The study also specifically looks at the development of future agricultural leaders

Community Orchards for Food Sovereignty, Human Health, and Climate Resilience: Indigenous Roots and Contemporary Applications

Community orchards could play a valuable role as nature-based solutions to complex challenges we face today. In these unique plantings, a variety of nut- and fruit-producing trees and berry shrubs are often established together on public spaces to provide the community with healthy, fresh food. Interest in these plantings has been increasing in the United States, even more so since the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted vulnerabilities in our food systems. However, the roots of community orchards can be traced back to Indigenous foodways which have persisted for millennia. Then and now, community orchards support an array of functions, positioning them to contribute to solutions to major challenges related to food security, human health, and climate resilience. In this paper, contemporary applications are considered for Indigenous communities in the US that seek to care for their communities and the environment. A case study of the Osage Orchard project in Pawhuska, OK, USA, highlights the value of reconnecting with cultural foods and practices of Osage ancestors, to meet the needs and preferences of a contemporary Indigenous community

Exploring Indigenous entanglements in extension, land, and agriculture: An Oklahoma case study

Doctor of EducationDepartment of Educational LeadershipJeffrey T. ZacharakisThere is an extensive and complex history of agricultural and educational systems within the United States. Indigenous peoples maintained highly developed agricultural systems prior to colonization. After colonization, Indigenous and European systems converged in a battle of power that lasted for centuries. Today, there are 573 federally recognized Native nations in the United States (Bureau of Indian Affairs, 2019) and 39 federally recognized Native nations within the state of Oklahoma (Oklahoma Historical Society, n.d.). The agricultural history of each tribe is unique and European influence is found throughout. This research focuses on the agricultural history and current agricultural systems and educational programs of four Oklahoma-based Native nations: the Choctaw Nation, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Osage Nation, and Quapaw Nation. Additionally, the study looks at educational opportunities created by the College of the Muscogee Nation. This study seeks to understand the histories of these five settings related to the development of agriculture, specifically as it relates to agricultural education. Using TribalCrit (Brayboy, 2005; Daniels, 2011; Writer, 2008) and Osage ribbon work (Dennison, 2012; Hayman, RedCorn, & Zacharakis, 2018; RedCorn, 2016; RedCorn, in press) as the theoretical frameworks, this multiple-case study seeks to understand the complex entanglements that not only existed historically, but currently exist in respect to the development of Indigenous specific agricultural education programs

Impact of a Farm-to-School Nutrition and Gardening Intervention for Native American Families from the FRESH Study: A Randomized Wait-List Controlled Trial

Establishing healthy eating habits during childhood is critical to prevent chronic diseases that develop in adulthood. Tribally owned Early Childhood and Education (ECE) programs signify fundamental influence in childhood obesity disparities. A strategy to improve diet is the use of school gardens; however, few studies have used rigorous methods to assess diet and health outcomes. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe results from the six-month Food Resource Equity for Sustainable Health (FRESH) study among Native American families. We aimed to recruit 176 families of children attending Osage Nation ECE programs in four communities. Two communities received the intervention and two served as wait-list controls. Outcomes included change in dietary intake, body mass index, health status, systolic blood pressure (adults only), and food insecurity in children and parents. There were 193 children (n = 106 intervention; n = 87 control) and 170 adults (n = 93 intervention; n = 77 control) enrolled. Vegetable intake significantly increased in intervention children compared to controls for squash (p = 0.0007) and beans (p = 0.0002). Willingness to try scores increased for beans in intervention children (p = 0.049) and tomatoes in both groups (p = 0.01). FRESH is the first study to implement a farm-to-school intervention in rural, tribally owned ECEs. Future interventions that target healthy dietary intake among children should incorporate a comprehensive parent component in order to support healthy eating for all household members