“The Lumbee Food Collective is not ‘new’. It is coordinating and organizing knowledge transfer that typically happens on a family scale to work at a community level. The Collective will work to democratize learning so all tribal members can eat what their ancestors loved.”
Karli Moore, 30, is a community-engaged food ways scholar from the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. Growing up on her family’s farm, Karli feels a profound connection to the interconnected relationship of land, food, community and culture. Karli is currently a fourth-year doctoral candidate at Stanford University, researching the intersection of agricultural systems, climate change, and tribal governance. To best serve her community, Karli returned home and is working towards finishing her dissertation remotely.
Despite historical challenges, including the disruption of tribal sovereignty and legacy of generational poverty, the Lumbee people’s resilience and rich cultural practices continue to thrive. Karli sees the power of Native land stewardship, knowledge-sharing, and the restoration of traditional foodways as vital tools for enhancing the health and wellness of her community and the Lumbee land. She is dedicated to harnessing these strengths to support and sustain her community for generations to come.
The “Lumbee Food Collective” will restore Lumbee farming heritage and rich culinary contributions. By leveraging her knowledge and community connections Karli will establish the founding group of the Lumbee Food Collective comprised of Elders and knowledge keepers adept in traditional farming and cooking practices. Knowledge will be shared with the greater Lumbee community through hands-on seminars, workshops, and will be recorded into an archive of lessons and stories to ensure cultural information is accessible for future generations.
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