Lincoln, Neb. — Bradley Barker, Nebraska Extension specialist in 4-H and youth development, along with a team of co-investigators, has been awarded a nearly $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
The funding supports a project titled “Integrating Environmental Data Systems and Traditional Ecological Knowledge: A Framework for (Re)connecting Indigenous Youth to Traditional Foods and Modern Growing Practices.” The project, which began Sept. 1, 2024, will span three years.
This initiative aims to reconnect Indigenous youth, ages 10 to 18, and their communities with traditional foods and agricultural practices through a blend of Indigenous science and modern technologies. The project will establish teaching farms at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and in the Navajo communities of Red Mesa and Red Valley, Arizona. These farms will provide hands-on learning experiences shaped by the youth themselves, guided by respected elders and supported by experts from multiple universities.
“I am extremely excited to begin this project and look forward to co-creating with youth while learning how both Western and traditional agricultural practices can be honored,” said Barker.
Project collaborators include:
- Bradley Barker, principal investigator (UNL)
- Theodore Hibbeler, Christian Stephenson, Stacy Adams, Katie Edwards (UNL)
- Kristin Searle, Curtis Frazier, Reagan Wytsalucy (Utah State University)
- Emma Anderson, Ilana Schoenfeld (Massachutes Institute of Technology)
The project seeks to empower Indigenous youth by helping them explore and strengthen their connection to traditional ways of understanding and interacting with the land. By combining Indigenous ecological knowledge with modern data science and technology, the youth will gain valuable skills for future careers in STEM while preserving their cultural heritage. The teaching farms will be equipped with tools such as seeds, soil, microscopes, sensors, and structures like high tunnels to enhance their learning experience.
“Through these farms, youth will not only learn about growing food but also address global food sustainability challenges while staying rooted in their traditions,” Barker said.
“The project also honors Indigenous food traditions, including food planning, harvesting, seed saving, preservation, and distribution, ensuring that these practices are passed down to future generations,”
By fostering youth-led teaching farms, the project aims to create sustainable food systems informed by both Indigenous knowledge and Western agricultural practices. These efforts will strengthen the cultural relationship between Indigenous communities and their traditional foods while incorporating modern methods of food production and preservation. Participants will be supported through honorariums as they deepen their connections to the land and their communities.
