Native plant foods symposium

Two bowls of native foods, one labelled as elderberries

UC Davis Conference Center
Map
Basket of acorns with a hand reaching into it.
Basket of acorns.

Spend the day tasting Native Californian foods such black walnuts, acorns and local berries and learning about the deep history of Native peoples and their food.

The California Native Plant Foods Conference and Symposium is an all-day event celebrating Native foods. Chefs, representatives from Native communities and scientists will lead demonstrations, talks and workshops.

This inaugural gathering is for everyone committed to learning and building a future rooted in the connections Native people have with their food, the land it's grown on and the processes for preparing it.

We seek to establish frameworks for academic-Tribal partnerships that honor Indigenous food sovereignty and traditional knowledge. By working together across disciplines, we can revitalize cultures, heal our communities and restore the land for generations to come.

We welcome:

  • Students and community members

  • Tribal leaders and traditional knowledge holders

  • Academic researchers across disciplines

  • Government agency representatives

  • Food system practitioners and entrepreneurs

Speakers include Tribal leaders, people from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and UC Davis Chancellor Gary May. 

This event is hosted by the Department of Plant Sciences, in collaboration with the Departments of Native American Studies and Nutrition, Native American Academic Student Success Center, and the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.