“ This project will be an integral piece, the heart of the garden, that will build on a larger plan to reclaim food sovereignty to preserve and strengthen cultural connection.”
Nathaniel Barrett (Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians), 23, is a community member and employee of the Viejas Public Works Department dedicated to strengthening food sovereignty and cultural connection within his community. Living on the Viejas Reservation in Alpine, California—a rural valley east of San Diego—Nathaniel has witnessed firsthand how his community is often underserved and disconnected from traditional food systems. His work is rooted in a deep commitment to restoring access to cultural knowledge, land-based practices, and healthier ways of living for his people.
A major challenge facing the Viejas community is limited access to sustainable, culturally relevant food sources, compounded by a reliance on processed and government-issued foods. This has contributed to ongoing health disparities, including diabetes and other chronic conditions, as well as a loss of traditional knowledge. Nathaniel’s Dreamstarter project, “The Giving Fire,” responds to this need by creating a space where community members can reconnect with their food, culture, and one another, while addressing food insecurity and supporting overall wellbeing.
At the center of this project will be a traditional red earth oven, built from clay gathered from Viejas Mountain, and housed within the expanding community garden. This outdoor kitchen will serve as a gathering place where families can learn to grow, prepare, and cook traditional foods using land-based practices. In partnership with The Red Earth Movement, Nathaniel will help create an eco-friendly, intergenerational space for teaching cooking skills, gardening, and cultural traditions. Through shared meals, workshops, and hands-on learning, “The Giving Fire” will foster community connection, promote healing, and support a long-term vision of increased food sovereignty, improved health outcomes, and a renewed sense of cultural identity.
