Oregon State University Extension Service’s traditional foods preservation program at its office in the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs community has been a highly desired and appreciated program for decades. It has focused on bringing evidence-based, science-tested recipes and approved workshops to the community.
Traditional Food knowledge in Warm Springs is part of unwritten law and is not shared outside the Tribes. But delivery of the preservation classes to respect cultural knowledge and ways required improvement. Prior to 2020, any certified Extension educator could lead classes on traditional foods, which led to community debates of appropriateness and engagement of OSU Extension.
In 2020, the program changed structure to prioritize Tribal leadership and community input by requiring a Tribal member to lead all traditional foods classes. This structure shifted the balance of power back to the Tribes, while honoring Tribal cultures and desire to protect, provide access and prepare traditional food. For example, each traditional foods class begins with a prayer and a song to bless the group, food and class. This is a common cultural practice and allows the program to better align with traditional ways.
The program is more inclusive of traditional ecological knowledge, respecting – and not discrediting – traditional ways of preservation but offering another method of preservation that correlates to the change in traditional foods over time. The program has added more classes specific to traditional foods, increasing opportunities for skill-building of Extension staff and opportunities to learn from community participants about cultural practices and their apprehensions for learning newer preservation methods.
As a result, non-Tribal Extension preservation educators learned the importance of lifting up the community and supporting growth and education from the sidelines. The Tribal staff member continues to provide guidance on traditional foods and practices while becoming the leader on more classes. Participants left with higher confidence in the process. The change has resulted in greater appreciation from Tribal leaders.
“This is how the program should have always been run,” one leader said. “OSU has come a long way and is demonstrating their understanding and respect for our traditional foods and for our practices around them.”