Reconnecting to America’s Native Food Trail through Appalachia

What Native Food(ways) in Appalachia could revitalize America's diets to address contemporary health challenges? Let's visit Appalachia's eight (state and federally) recognized tribes: 
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1. NY - Seneca Nation of Indians 
2. NC – Eastern Band of Cherokee 
3. MI – Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
4. AL – Cherokee Tribe of Northeast Alabama
5. AL – Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama
6. AL – Piqua Shawnee Tribe
7. AL – United Cherokee Ani-Yun-Wiya Nation
8. GA – Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokee

Source: https://www.arc.gov/tribal-communities-in-the-appalachian-region/

How does the varied topography of the Appalachian region and each individual Tribe’s culture determine which kinds of foods can help us heal?

Do the Tribes living in Appalachia mountains have pawpaw fruits, mushrooms, wild onions, berries, and black walnuts?

Do the Tribes living in the Appalachia deep valleys enjoy ramps, sunchokes, plums, fiddleheads, cherries, and purple dead-nettle?

Do the Tribes near Appalachia river systems still depend on the local fish and wildlife as food sources? Do they also depend on elderberry, dandelions, goldenseal, chickweed, and chicory?

What Native Appalachia foods are good for nutrition and wellness to include: wild game, root crops, acorns, persimmon, hickory nuts, chestnuts, blueberries, baby pinecones, sunflowers, violets, sumac, garlic mustard, grain-bearing grasses, and coveted wild ginseng? 

We will keep you posted on what we discover.