Not Your Huckleberry: The Ḱamíłpa Band's Fight for Food Sovereignty

Since the early 1900s, members of the Ḱamíłpa Band of the Yakama Nation have complained to the U.S. Forest Service about the agency’s mismanagement of treaty protected huckleberry fields in southwestern Washington. Trees have replaced berries since the Forest Service banned cultural burns that maintained the open berry fields. The agency has also allowed a commercial industry to turn the fruits into a profitable commodity, as Gifford Pinchot National Forest is the only national forest that allows large-scale commercial huckleberry picking. Continuing to defined their treaty rights, members of the Ḱamíłpa Band will talk about now working to ban commercial harvesting in the fields.
Based on her recent story for High Country News, Journalist Josephine Woolington will lead a conversation with members of the Ḱamíłpa Band of the Yakama Nation to discuss the ongoing struggle for tribal food sovereignty and treaty rights. The event will also feature art from spuyaləpabš artist Epiphany Couch.

This event is hosted by High Country News and the Native Arts + Cultures Foundation.

• Elaine Harvey: is a food gatherer, and member of the Ḱamíłpa Band of the Yakama Nation.
• Bronsco Jim Jr: is the Chief of the Ḱamíłpa Band.
• Jeremy Takala: is a member of the Ḱamíłpa Band, and a member of Yakama Nation
• Tribal Council.
• Epiphany Couch: is a spuyaləpabš (Puyallup)/Yakama descendant, and a Portland-based interdisciplinary artist exploring generational knowledge, storytelling, and the natural and spiritual worlds.
• Josephine Woolington is a journalist and author in her hometown of Portland.

Host or Publisher High Country News a 501(c)(3) magazine focusing on the American West