Below is information regarding proposals for the Indigenous Food Sovereignty Summit:
CALL FOR STORIES AND NARRATIVES
We invite individuals and organizations actively working to advance Indigenous Food Sovereignty to submit stories and narratives for oral presentations, hands-on demonstrations, and skill-building workshops at the inaugural Indigenous Food Sovereignty Summit (IFSS). This gathering will take place April 6–8, 2026, at Michigan State University.
The IFSS aims to bring together participants to share food sovereignty initiatives, inspire learning, build community networks, and equip participants with practical skills to support and sustain just food systems. Our shared goal is to collectively define and strengthen Indigenous food sovereignty in the Great Lakes region.
This opportunity is open to everyone who meets the criteria of their skill set - not just academics. We are looking for a diverse range of individuals, including traditional knowledge keepers and those who have become experts in their field through lived experiences. If you have the skills, knowledge, or expertise that align with what we're seeking, we encourage you to apply. We would like to see a diverse group of presenters and we encourage non-academics to apply.
We welcome proposals that reflect a wide range of expertise, including:
- Administrative skills (e.g., grant writing, food safety planning)
- Technical skills (e.g., seed saving, soil testing)
- Cultural practices (e.g., mindful foraging, traditional hunting)
- Community-building (e.g, networking, cross-generational knowledge)
We believe a train-the-trainer approach will help build Tribal capacity and strengthen cross-Tribal relationships, ultimately contributing to the revitalization of Tribal and inter-Tribal economies.
Session Formats: Presenters may propose sessions of 30, 60, or 90 minutes. If your proposed session requires a different format or duration (e.g., a 3-hour intensive workshop), we encourage you to submit the narrative for your session and explain your needs within its description.
Facilities & Support: We can accommodate both indoor and outdoor sessions and provide A/V support as needed. We will not have support for hybrid or Zoom sessions, and all speakers should plan on attending in-person.
Questions? If you're unsure whether your idea is a good fit or feasible for the Summit, please reach out to the IFSS Programming Committee at events@anr.msu.edu.
HOW TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL
All proposals must be submitted online at: IFSS Proposal Submissions
Deadline for submission: January 19, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
Be prepared to provide the following information:
- Contact information for the lead presenter and all applicable co-presenters including name, title, organization or affiliation, phone number, and email.
- Indicate the submission type (30-, 60-, or 90-minutes) and presentation format (hands-on activity or workshop, offsite session, listening and learning, or miscellaneous). In addition, if the session is offsite, provide possible locations on or near MSU's campus.
- Presentations will focus on essential elements of food sovereignty and indigenous agriculture. Indicate what topics or areas of interest the workshop will address.
- Provide a title (100 characters maximum - no more than 10 words) that briefly identifies the content. It should be able to stand alone and give the audience a clear idea of what will happen in the session.
- Provide a narrative of no more than 200 words, focusing on the session's topic and how it contributes to indigenous food sovereignty initiatives.
SELECTION PROCESS
Submission deadline is January 19, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Program committee will review all submissions. Selection decisions will be made in January and notice to applicants will be provided by February 16, 2026.
PROGRAM CREATION
The Program Committee has the authority and responsibility for placing sessions in the program at a day and time that best suits the overall program. Session dates and times will be provided in February; requests for date or time changes will be considered but are not guaranteed.
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