“We can’t become healthy if we are afraid of new things or don’t have access to the types of healthy foods we should be eating. It is a lot of bad habits that we get when we eat foods that are quick and easy snacks like chips and candy. So our project will try to make healthy choices available and an easy habit to change into.”
Tucker Smith (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe), 18, is a youth leader dedicated to improving health and wellness in his community by reconnecting young people to traditional foods. Based in Fort Yates, North Dakota, Tucker is passionate about helping his peers understand the connection between diet, culture, and overall wellbeing. Drawing from his own experiences as an athlete, he is motivated to show other youth how food choices directly impact physical performance, health, and daily life.
In his community, many youth face limited access to healthy, culturally relevant foods and are often surrounded by highly processed, high-sugar, and high-salt options. These patterns contribute to long-term health challenges such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Tucker’s Dreamstarter project, “Putting the Eat in Athlete: Learning to Love Traditional Foods,” addresses this issue by helping youth shift their habits and mindsets around food, while reintroducing traditional foods as accessible, appealing, and essential to a healthy lifestyle.
Through partnerships with local schools, the Sacred Pipe food pantry, and Mni Wichoni Health Circle, Tucker will lead hands-on taste testing events, summer youth programming, and food sovereignty education initiatives. Youth will have opportunities to try traditional foods, participate in harvesting activities, and learn how food connects to land, culture, and athletic performance. By increasing access to healthier options and creating positive, peer-driven experiences around food, Tucker aims to help youth build lasting habits that support their health, strengthen their connection to culture, and empower them to make informed choices for their future.
