The Living Breath (LB) of wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ Committee is seeking three (3) graduate or undergraduate applicants for a UW Student Study Abroad Program to Aotearoa, New Zealand (NZ). This program is offered through the UW Department of American Indian Studies and the UW Student Study Abroad Student Tour Program. Students will receive one (1) academic credit.

The LB Committee supports the advancement of studies in Indigenous food sovereignty and security and the purpose of this trip is to connect UW students who are studying, researching, or have an interest in Indigenous food sovereignty with Māori food sovereignty projects and initiatives. Selected students will visit Māori communities in Whakatane and Whanganui who are enacting food sovereignty as a way to nurture health and wellbeing and strengthen food security.

This Study Abroad Program will take place during the 2024 Spring Break with a tentative date range of March 14 – 24, 2024. We are planning to travel to NZ March 14 or 15 and arrive back in Seattle on March 24.

The Study Abroad Program covers student’s airfare, meals, accommodation, transportation, medical insurance and UW Tours administrative fees. Students will cover their incidentals. Members of our Living Breath Team will be traveling with the students.

Deadline to submit application: January 12, 2024

Who We Are

Our Living Breath Team is composed of Indigenous women who represent interdisciplinary academic fields of study and philanthropy. We are committed to Indigenous food, environmental, and social justice and recognize the need to maintain community-based events as we all carry on this important work.

Our Mission

Our Mission is to hold our annual Living Breath symposia and host other events that serve our Indigenous communities as we continue to foster dialogue and build collaborative networks to sustain our cultural food practices and preserve our healthy relationships with the land, water, and all living things.

Our Vision

Our vision is to create spaces that bring together individuals to share their knowledge and expertise on topics such as Indigenous foodways and ecological knowledge, Indigenous food sovereignty and security initiatives, traditional foods/medicines and health/wellness, environmental justice, treaty rights, and climate change.

You can learn more about the Living Breath here:

https://livingbreathfoodsymposium.org/ and at https://www.facebook.com/UWLivingBreath