Dream Of Wild Health

THE MISSION OF DREAM OF WILD HEALTH IS TO RESTORE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN THE NATIVE COMMUNITY BY RECOVERING KNOWLEDGE OF AND ACCESS TO HEALTHY INDIGENOUS FOODS, MEDICINES, AND LIFEWAYS. WE DO THIS BY: CREATING CULTURALLY-BASED OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH EMPLOYMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND LEADERSHIP; INCREASING ACCESS TO INDIGENOUS FOODS THROUGH FARM PRODUCTION, SALES AND DISTRIBUTION; AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND OUTREACH AROUND RECLAIMING CULTURAL TRADITIONS, HEALTHY INDIGENOUS FOOD, COOKING SKILLS, AND POLICY AND SYSTEMS CHANGE. DREAM OF WILD HEALTH IS ALSO ONE OF THE LEADERS OF A GROUNDSWELL MOVEMENT TO RECLAIM INDIGENOUS SOVEREIGNTY THROUGH FOOD. OUR PROGRAMS IMPACT OVER 12,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR FROM OUR YOUNGEST COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO OUR OLDEST.

FARM & FOOD ACCESS - THE FOOD GROWN AT OUR FARM IS DISTRIBUTED PRIMARILY IN THE NATIVE COMMUNITY THROUGH: AN INDIGENOUS FOOD SHARE (COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE MODEL); AT FARMERS MARKETS IN MINNEAPOLIS; WHOLESALE TO NATIVE CHEFS AND RESTAURANTS; TO YOUTH AND FAMILIES AT OUR PROGRAMS AND EVENTS; AND THROUGH DONATIONS TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS. IN RECENT YEARS, WE HAVE INCREASED PRODUCTION AND DONATIONS, ADDED A DELIVERY OPTION, AND PARTNERED TO DELIVER FRESH PRODUCE TO YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. IN 2021 THE DREAM OF WILD HEALTH FARM TEAM GREW OVER 15,200 POUNDS OF FOOD, INCLUDING OVER 6,000 POUNDS OF FOOD THAT WAS DONATED TO THE COMMUNITY. IN MARCH 2020, WE PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL 20 ACRES OF LAND ON THE SAME STREET AS OUR EXISTING FARM, TOTALING 30-ACRES OF FARMLAND. TO DATE, WE HAVE FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE SOIL AND DESIGNING THE SPACE. OUR VISION FOR THE NEAR FUTURE IS THAT THIS SPACE WILL ALLOW US TO EXPAND OUR GROWING CAPACITY, CREATE VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS AND PROVIDE MORE SPACE FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO LEARN AND GROW.

NETWORK LEADERSHIP - WORKING WITH PARTNERS IS VITAL TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR PROGRAMS AS WE RELY ON THE SKILLS AND EXPERTISE OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO COMPLEMENT THE WORK WE DO IN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR NETWORK BUILDING AND COALITION LEADERSHIP WORK HELPS US INFLUENCE LONG-TERM SYSTEMS CHANGE IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE NATIVE COMMUNITY. DREAM OF WILD HEALTH IS THE LEAD ORGANIZER OF THE INDIGENOUS FOOD NETWORK (IFN), WHOSE MISSION IS TO REBUILD SOVEREIGN FOOD SYSTEMS WITHIN THE INTERTRIBAL URBAN NATIVE COMMUNITY THROUGH COLLABORATION. THE LONG-TERM GOALS OF THE NETWORK INCLUDE INCREASING ACCESS TO HEALTHIER AND MORE CULTURALLY-RELEVANT FOODS FOR THE NATIVE COMMUNITY IN MINNEAPOLIS, IMPROVING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AMONG NATIVE FOOD PRODUCERS, CHEFS AND RESTAURANTS, CULTIVATING COMMUNITY CONNECTEDNESS, AND CHANGING THE SYSTEMS AND POLICIES THAT LEAD TO CONTINUING INEQUITIES.

NATIVE YOUTH EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES CULTURALLY-BASED LESSONS FOR YOUTH, AGES 8-18. THE FARM OFFERS A SAFE AND CREATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY LEARN ABOUT REGENERATIVE GARDENING, HEALTHY FOODS PREPARATION AND NUTRITION, AND NATIVE CULTURAL TRADITIONS WHILE GAINING EMPLOYMENT AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS. PROGRAMS INCLUDE: CORA'S KIDS, AGES 8-12, ARE GIVEN AN INTRODUCTION TO WORK ETHIC AND SOFT SKILLS. GARDEN WARRIORS, AGES 13-18, LEARN ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND WORK ETHIC BY WORKING FARM TO MARKET AND REPRESENT DWH AT A FARMER'S MARKET IN A NEIGHBORHOOD CONVENIENT FOR THE NATIVE COMMUNITY, EARNING A STIPEND THAT IS SUPPORTED WITH SOFT SKILLS AND FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING. YOUTH LEADERS, AGES 13-18, PARTICIPATE IN YEAR-ROUND COMMUNITY ADVOCACY AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS WHERE THEY GAIN EXPERIENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE THROUGH FOOD DEMOS WITH A COMMUNITY-BASED FOCUS. YOUTH INTERNS, AGES 15-21, ARE EMPLOYED AT THE FARM DURING THE SUMMER AND HAVE INCREASED RESPONSIBILITIES OF MENTORING YOUNGER YOUTH. FURTHER LEADERSHIP GROWTH IS OFFERED THROUGH INTERNSHIPS AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT AND CAREER SKILLS.