The Poor Prole’s Almanac Decolonizing Food Systems: Embracing Relational Accountability and Community Engagement with Dr. Lauren Kepkiewicz
Mar 11, 2025
Dr. Lauren Kepkiewicz, a community-based researcher dedicated to equitable food systems, discusses the transformative power of relational accountability. She delves into how Indigenous perspectives challenge conventional academic norms, emphasizing food sovereignty and the impacts of land dispossession. The conversation highlights the RARE Collective's mission to bridge gaps between Indigenous and settler farmers. They explore the importance of building trust for difficult discussions and the role of the Community Food Sovereignty Hub in fostering impactful connections.
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Disillusionment with Development
- Dr. Lauren Kepkiewicz's interest in food systems stems from her background in international development and a disillusionment with traditional development practices.
- A farming internship helped her connect with the land and question land ownership within food movements.
Food Systems Beyond Agrarianism
- Land access and relationships with land, community, and ecology are essential to food systems.
- Agrarian concepts often overlook these crucial interconnected elements.
Food Sovereignty and Indigenous Land
- Food sovereignty emphasizes community control over food systems, but this can create tension on Indigenous lands.
- Settler agriculture has historically dispossessed Indigenous peoples, creating ongoing barriers to traditional foodways.