About the Symposium
The Living Breath of wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ Indigenous Foods Symposium brings people together to share knowledge on topics such as traditional foods, plants and medicines; environmental and food justice; food sovereignty/security; health and wellness; and treaty rights. Indigenous peoples in the Northwest have maintained a sustainable way of life through a cultural, spiritual, and reciprocal relationship with their environment.
This symposium serves to foster dialogue and build collaborative networks as we, Native peoples, strive to sustain our cultural food practices and preserve our healthy relationships to the land, water, and all living things.
Healing Hands – Healing Lands
14th Annual Living Breath of wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ Indigenous Foods Symposium
Date: May 1–2, 2026
Location:
UW wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ Intellectual House
4249 Little Canoe Channel NE
Seattle, WA
Our 2026 theme is, “Healing Hands – Healing Lands”. For Indigenous peoples, healing is a reciprocal practice. As we nourish the land, the land nourishes us. Our foods, medicines, teachings, and movement practices sustain our bodies, minds, and spirits.
Hosted by the Living Breath Indigenous Foods Collective and the University of Washington American Indian Studies Department.
Keynote Speaker
Vina Brown (Haíłzaqv and Nuu-chah-nulth)
Friday, May 1, 2026
Vina Brown is a scholar, artist, and wellness advocate whose Haíłzaqv name, ƛ̓aqvas g̱l̓waqs, translates to Copper Canoe Woman. She is Adjunct Faculty in the Native Studies Leadership and Human Services Programs at Northwest Indian College.
She holds a BA in Native Studies and Leadership and a Master of Jurisprudence in Indigenous Law, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Indigenous Studies at the University of Alaska. Raised in her Haíłzaqv homelands, Vina grew up immersed in cultural resurgence, ceremony, and Tribal Canoe Journeys.
Vina is the founder of the Copper Canoe Woman jewelry brand and co-founder of Rooted Resiliency, an Indigenous women-led nonprofit dedicated to community wellness, cultural healing, and reclamation. Across all her work, she advocates for land, culture, and collective well-being, and for healing intergenerational and historical trauma through community, culture, and movement.
Registration
Registration details forthcoming. Please check back soon for ticket and schedule information.
Call for Presentations
Deadline: February 6, 2026
We invite proposals for individual presentations, panels, and workshops for the 2026 Living Breath Indigenous Foods Symposium.
Proposals may address, but are not limited to, the following themes:
Indigenous food sovereignty and security, including traditional and first foods, plants, and medicines
Environmental and climate justice as they relate to Indigenous food systems
Health and wellness, including embodied, movement-based, and land-based practices
Youth and intergenerational leadership in food sovereignty work
Selected presenters will be notified in early March 2026. A modest honorarium is available for accepted presentations.
About the Event
Our annual Living Breath Symposium draws over 300 participants from the UW campus community, regional tribal and urban Indigenous communities, and from across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Aotearoa New Zealand.
The symposium is a signature event for the UW wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ Intellectual House and has become an important venue for bringing together people and organizations committed to protecting Indigenous homelands, foodways, and the environment. It fosters dialogue and builds collaborative networks as Indigenous peoples work to sustain cultural food practices and preserve healthy relationships with the land, water, and all living things.
Stay Connected
For questions or more information, please contact the Living Breath Coordinator:
Tia Yazzie – tyazzie@uw.edu
Learn more about Living Breath and past events on the Living Breath Food Symposium website or Facebook page.
Planning Team
Dr. Charlotte Coté; Dr. Dian Million; Susan Balbas; Dr. Clarita Lefthand-Begay; Dana Arviso; Bridget Ray; Dr. Jessica Salvador; Tia Yazzie
Past Living Breath Symposia
The Living Breath Indigenous Foods Symposium has been offered annually for over a decade. Information about past symposia, including themes, speakers, and program materials, can be found on the official Living Breath website.