There are enhanced efforts to build regenerative food systems, and in South Dakota, there’s a new initiative surrounding bison. This effort is among the latest food sovereignty initiatives led by the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit serving Lakota people in the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Thunder Valley Food Sovereignty Director Chance Weston says the emerging plan involves managing bison through regenerative agriculture, which centers around maintaining soil health and integrating the surrounding ecosystem.
“So, it’s one thing to quote-on-quote run buffalo in an ag operation, but also, it’s quite another to take on such another level in terms of, ‘How are we restoring the soil? How are we restoring the relationships that were in there?'”
Weston says a key component of their practices involves demonstrating them to younger populations so they can carry on the food sovereignty movement.
“We wanna see this huge new wave of new producers and growers that have this newfound knowledge.”
Weston suggests it’s a blend of learning techniques from a scientific standpoint, while also seeing how previous generations developed food and land management systems. He says Thunder Valley’s programs are viewed as a way to address barriers for Pine Ridge communities in accessing healthy foods.
As for bison, Weston says work still needs to be done, including adding local processors.
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