Facing severe food insecurity, high rates of chronic disease, and generational trauma from the loss of bison, the Blackfeet Nation is leading a groundbreaking movement for food sovereignty. Through innovative programs, traditional food studies, and educational initiatives, they are reconnecting with their ancestral diet and cultural heritage to heal their community and assert self-determination.
The Blackfeet Nation, situated on a remote landscape in northern Montana, faces significant challenges with food access. Only four grocery stores serve the entire reservation, offering limited fresh, healthy options at high prices, leading to a reliance on processed foods. This dietary shift contributes to chronic health issues like diabetes and heart disease, which are alarmingly above state and national averages. Furthermore, the historical extermination of bison, central to Blackfeet culture, has caused generational trauma and a loss of heritage. In response, the Blackfeet Nation launched an Agricultural Resource Management Plan (ARMP) in 2016, a pioneering initiative to assert tribal management over agricultural resources, aiming for food sovereignty and self-determination rooted in Blackfeet values. Non-profits like the Piikani Lodge Health Institute (PLHI), founded by Kim Paul, are crucial to implementing these goals. PLHI merges Western science with traditional knowledge, conducting a 100-day traditional foods study—featuring bison, berries, and wild plants—to examine the health benefits of an ancestral diet. Initial results have been promising, with final findings anticipated in early 2026. Concurrently, Blackfeet Community College (BCC) is fostering food sovereignty by integrating modern science with traditional practices. Through programs and the construction of a bison and cattle processing facility, BCC is training students in meat processing and sustainable agriculture, aiming to reconnect with a buffalo-based diet and increase local food production. Despite these proactive efforts, challenges persist, including funding cuts (some recently from the Trump administration) and the difficulty of retaining economic benefits from their ranching due to consolidated national markets. However, the Blackfeet Nation remains resilient, leveraging education and community initiatives to overcome historical trauma and build a sustainable, healthy future rooted in their cultural identity.
