Food insecurity persists in native american communities despite cultural traditions of sharing

A simple childhood memory reveals a deeper truth about hunger in America’s Indigenous communities. When Dr. Angie Morrill asked her sister why they sang “Patty Cake” so frequently as children, the answer was stark: “Because we were hungry.” This revelation illuminates how food insecurity has shaped the experiences of many Native Americans, even those who go on to achieve professional success.

Dr. Morrill, an enrolled citizen of the Klamath Tribes whose traditional homelands span southern Oregon and northern California, reflects on how hunger coexisted with cherished family traditions. She recalls warm memories of her mother baking Toll House cookies while watching The Wizard of Oz, and their family delivering homemade goods to elders and friends in their urban Native community during Christmas. These experiences highlight a fundamental tension many Indigenous families face: maintaining cultural values centered on food sharing and hospitality while struggling with food scarcity.

The tradition of offering food to guests and ensuring there’s enough to share runs deep in Native cultures, making food insecurity particularly challenging for Indigenous communities. Dr. Morrill’s story underscores how these economic hardships can persist across generations, with hunger remaining “never too far” from her thoughts even as a successful professional adult.

This personal account sheds light on broader issues of food sovereignty and environmental justice affecting Native American communities, where access to traditional foods and adequate nutrition continues to be compromised by historical displacement and ongoing systemic challenges.