On Feb. 28, students in ENVS201/soph seminar greeted guest speaker Rachel Sayet, an anthropologist/educator from the Mohegan Tribe, who spoke about revitalizing traditional foodways in New England and beyond. ENVS201, taught by COE Director Barry Chernoff and assistant professor of environmental studies Helen Poulos, introduces students to critical methods for conducting research on environmental issues, as a primer for performing research in the ENVS major.
Focusing on the concept of food sovereignty, Sayet explained how harvesting native foods can be a source of income for tribes, helping them strengthen autonomy in their communities.
Assistant professor of environmental studies Helen Poulos introduces Rachel Sayet.
Noting the relationship between colonization and a drastic rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes among Indigenous people, Sayet stressed the importance of tribes returning to their pre-colonial diets in healthy modern ways.
Indigenous tribes celebrated several “thanksgivings” throughout the year, to express gratitude for specific harvests, from corn and squash to strawberries and cranberries. Sayet emphasized the positive effects initiatives such as community gardens, seed saving, and greenhouses can have on tribes, helping them move toward food sovereignty.
On Feb. 28, students in ENVS201/soph seminar greeted guest speaker Rachel Sayet, an anthropologist/educator from the Mohegan Tribe, who spoke about revitalizing traditional foodways in New England and beyond. ENVS201, taught by COE Director Barry Chernoff and assistant professor of environmental studies Helen Poulos, introduces students to critical methods for conducting research on environmental issues, as a primer for performing research in the ENVS major.
