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2013 Spring | Agriculture and Food Systems, Environmental Justice

Developing Muckleshoot Community-Based Food Policy

Student(s):

Jennifer Marcello

Program or Department(s):

  • Program on the Environment
  • University of Washington

Site supervisor(s):

Valerie Segrest

Partner(s):

  • University of Washington

Faculty advisor(s):

Megan Styles, Program on the Environment, University of Washington

My internship was conducted with Valerie Segrest of the Muckleshoot Tribe, who are currently working to improve the health within their community through the development of regional food policy. The focus of my research was to understand the role of diet quality in maintaining health and preserving culture, to assess how federal programs can better support tribal communities in these efforts. The Muckleshoot Food Sovereignty Project is a great example of how tribal communities can walk a path towards empowerment and self-reliance, and provides a striking window into the larger issue of food justice in contemporary America.