Our dear friend Clay Morris (Arapaho) is bringing recognition to Indigenous contributions to food as an Adjunct Professor at Shepherd University, teaching "Appalachian Foodways and Ethnoastronomy." 

Last night (Feb. 27), Clay's graduate and undergraduate students showcased their creativity and research in their mid-term presentations focused on Black and Brown Appalachia foods.

The slideshow below highlights the remarkable food accomplishments of these talented students, illustrating the richness and diversity of Appalachia's culinary heritage.

​Clay honored our non-profit work introducing co-founder Rene' Locklear White to share what we are up to. We are so proud of you Clay!!! And your students!!!!!

Helping video on Grounding - touching Mother Earth to heal your body.

Winchester Star article and copy of the Certificate of Authenticity for the Virginia Governor from Sanctuary on the Trail artist Rene' Locklear White - bringing recognition to Native American Indian people and culture with support from community and volunteers who care. Special thanks to Winchester Star Cathy Kuehner and Clarke County Tourism Director Len Capelli.

FROM CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY
​    According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, “More than 90 percent of crop varieties have disappeared from farmer’s fields; half of the breeds of many domestic animals have been lost. In fisheries, all the world’s 17 main fishing grounds are now being fished at or above their sustainable limits.”
     According to the Center for Biological Diversity, “In the past 500 years, we know of approximately 1,000 species that have gone extinct, from the woodland bison of West Virginia and Arizona’s Merriam’s elk to the Rocky Mountains.”
     According to the FAO, with this decline, agrobiodiversity is disappearing; the scale of the loss is extensive. With the disappearance of harvested species, varieties and breeds, a wide range of unharvested
species also disappear.
    Since the 1900’s, some 75 percent of the plants genetic diversity has been lost as farmers worldwide have left their multiple local varieties and landraces for genetically uniform, high-yielding varieties.
    Today, 30 percent of livestock breeds are at risk of extinction; six breeds are lost each month. And 75 percent of the world’s food is generated from only 12 plants and five animal species.