Human Spirit

For hundreds of years, Indigenous peoples in the Americas (and across the world) have faced genocide, land theft, and in many cases, forced relocation, all of which have deprived them of their ancestral foodways. Today, many Native peoples are grappling with the devastating health consequences of these ancestral traumas, along with grinding poverty and a diet of highly processed foods. But despite this grim reality, a growing number of Indigenous Nations are working towards an Indigenous foods movement as a means of cultural renewal, environmental sustainability, and a way to reclaim food sovereignty and personal health. Find out what’s being done — and what you can do to help.

Traditional native nations in the Americas have often been portrayed as primitive societies. But the truth is that they developed extraordinarily wise and sophisticated methods of agriculture and land stewardship. In this article, Diné artist and activist, Lyla June, explores what indigenous relationships have to teach us today, so we can all learn from native wisdom and do our part to protect the world’s soil, water, forests, and climate.

Looking for holiday gifts you’ll feel good about giving or receiving? These healthy, ethical, and sustainable gifts are functional, useful, and inspired. You’ll find causes to support, health and beauty items, kitchen enhancements, educational entertainment, and more for the people and the planet that you love.

Alabama State Senator Malika Sanders-Fortier and her sister Ainka Sanders Jackson, executive director of the Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth & Reconciliation, have dedicated their lives to the eradication of racism and the promotion of peace, freedom, and health. In this video interview, Malika and Ainka discuss their involvement in the civil rights struggles in Selma, AL, and how they’re working towards Martin Luther King, Jr’s vision of a Beloved Community with healthy food and a healthy world for all.

Ocean Robbins sits down with Lyla June, indigenous activist, ecologist, and musician of Diné (Navajo), Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne), and European lineages. Lyla and Ocean discuss how indigenous farming practices have shaped the world, why indigenous peoples are critical to preserving biodiversity, and how we can cultivate a sense of belonging and rightful place as we live in the modern world.

Quiz question: What's the healthiest part of Thanksgiving? Nope, it's not the Brussels sprouts or sweet potato casserole. The most health-promoting aspect of Thanksgiving is right there in the name of the holiday: giving thanks. It turns out that the practice of gratitude, if it were bottled in pill form, would be the world's best-selling drug. Practicing gratitude daily can improve our moods, our fortunes, and our communities. Read on to discover the mind-blowing power of giving thanks on our health and happiness.

When we talk about food, we typically focus on what we’re eating. Kale, good. Donuts, bad. But how we’re eating is also important. Are we wolfing down our food while driving or scrolling through Instagram? Are we using food to distract ourselves from unwanted feelings? Or are we eating consciously and gratefully, nourishing our bodies with good food choices? In this article, we’ll explore the challenge — and power — of mindful eating.

Ocean Robbins sits down with Leah Penniman, food justice activist and the co-founder and co-director of Soul Fire Farm in Petersburg, NY. Hear Leah’s take on racism in the US food and agricultural system, what’s being done about it, and how you can take action to build a healthier and more sustainable world for everyone.

Recent events have been heartbreaking, and they have exposed more widely, how pervasive and painful racism is in our world. Our hearts go out to everyone who’s hurting, to everyone who’s frightened, and particularly to the communities of color that are bearing the terrible brunt of systemic racism, as they have been for centuries.

Categorized as essential workers, farmworkers continue to help provide the nation with food. But their lack of basic protections puts them uniquely at risk for exposure to COVID-19, threatening their livelihoods, their families, and those of us that rely on them to get food from fields to plates.

Along with the considerable stresses, losses, and frustrations of life during the coronavirus pandemic, are there also some good things happening? Ocean Robbins invites you to share any possible silver linings, lessons you’ve learned so far, or that you hope humanity might learn from this challenging time.

The mainstream media tells us that there’s not much more we can do than wash our hands often and keep to ourselves. Alternative health sites tout unproven and sometimes dangerous regimens, from drinking water every 15 minutes to consuming chlorine bleach. What’s missing from the discussion is the massive body of evidence that our diet and lifestyle choices can influence how our bodies respond to illness. Here Food Revolution Network CEO Ocean Robbins shares his take on what’s going on with the COVID-19 pandemic, and most importantly, how you can best respond. Plus you’ll find useful information, tips, and resources to support your health and safety. (VIDEO BELOW)