The 2024 Food Security Summit provided opportunities for Tribal members to learn strategies for Tribal food sovereignty, emphasizing the importance of self-sufficiency and sustainable food systems for Alaska Native communities. Participants learned valuable techniques for managing their gardens while traveling for hunting, fishing, and gathering, followed by a food preservation class led by Heidi Rader from UAF Cooperative Extension.
In the afternoon, breakout sessions focused on practical skills like making low-sugar jam, hydroponic winter gardening, and hunter safety.
Day two included a tour of the Botanical Gardens, highlighting research aimed at increasing food security through local vegetable and berry cultivation. Afternoon sessions offered hands-on instruction in vegetable preservation, whitefish processing, and trail signs. The workshop underscored the role of food sovereignty in building resilient communities across Alaska.
