A Mississippi Tribe Is Growing Its Own Organic Movement
Provided by: Natural Resources Defense Council|Published on: October 6, 2022
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12, AP
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Social Studies, Biology, English Language Arts, Health
Authors: Nicole Greenfield
Region: North America, USA - South, United States, Mississippi
Languages: English
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This article tells the story of an organic farming initiative started by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians to make healthy produce more accessible and affordable.
- It discusses how one community uses traditional knowledge and an environmentally and socially conscious agricultural approach to improve the well-being and health of individuals.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This article provides evidence of a grassroots initiative started by individuals to benefit their community and the environment.
- This article is a great way to learn about the important role of Indigenous peoples in leading environmental solutions.
Additional Prerequisites
- To provide context, students should have a general understanding of the experiences and hardships endured by Indigenous people in the United States and the significance of preserving traditional knowledge.
Differentiation
- This article introduces numerous concepts like soil regeneration, Native American reservations, local farming, and public health, which the teacher can choose to build upon for different lessons.
- This article can be used in health classes during lessons about nutrition and access to fresh food and in science classes during lessons about the impact of agriculture on the climate and local environment.
- To extend the lesson, have students go through this interactive slide show about nutrition and the environment to connect this topic to climate change.
This resource examines how the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI) implements an ambitious organic farming initiative, Choctaw Fresh Produce, to provide healthy, organic food to its community, regenerate soil that has been farmed conventionally for generations, and restore the agricultural tribal identity of MBCI. Projects that provide needed nutrition for the elderly and school children are highlighted. This article features multiple interviews with Choctaw Fresh leaders and is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
