Dream of Wild Health
Dream of Wild Health is celebrating 25 years of working to restore health and wellbeing within the Twin Cities Native American community! We request general operating support to continue our work to restore health and well-being in the Native community by expanding access to Indigenous foods, medicines and lifeways and increasing and deepening the impact of our Native youth leadership programs.
We are one of the longest operating Native American organizations in the Twin Cities. We have grown into a 30-acre organic farm, native fruit orchard & pollinator meadow & work with youth and families across the Twin Cities. Our mission is to restore health and well-being in the Native community by recovering knowledge of and access to healthy, indigenous foods, medicines, and lifeways. We build community, share Indigenous knowledge, advocate for food sovereignty, & support partners.
Dream of Wild Health advances Food, Agriculture, Environment, and Youth in the followings ways:
Native Youth Education & Leadership: Programs provide culturally-based lessons for youth in the Native community, ages 8-18. Youth learn about regenerative organic gardening, healthy foods preparation and nutrition, and Native cultural traditions.
Farm & Food Access: Food is distributed in the Native community through: an affordable Indigenous Food Share (CSA model); Farmers Markets; wholesale to Native chefs; to Native youth and families; and through donations to our community partners.
Funds through the East Side Food Co-op Seedlings program would enable DWH to reach our annual organizational goals, including:
Reaching over 12,000 community members through our programs.
Connecting with at least 70 Native youth through our in-depth summer and Youth Leaders program.
Distributing over 25,000 pounds of organically grown food and value-added products.
Increasing food access to Native families by subsidizing Indigenous Food Shares.
Supporting the capacity of the Indigenous Food Network
We create culturally-based opportunities for youth employment, entrepreneurship and leadership; increase access to Indigenous foods through farm production, sales and distribution; and engage community members through outreach around reclaiming cultural traditions, healthy Indigenous food, cooking skills, and policy and systems change.Health equity for Native Americans cannot be achieved separate from or without cultural restoration or connection.