About the Summit The 2026 Indigenous Food Policy Summit will take place in the early evening on April 21st at the Silberman Center in East Harlem, New York City. The summit is a collaboration between the NYC Food Policy Center, Hunter College, and the Silberman Center. Timed to coincide with the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), the summit aims to bring together Indigenous voices, including those already in the city for the Forum, and create a dedicated space for dialogue on food systems, sovereignty, and policy. The event will be capped at 60 participants. Sean Sherman, award-winning chef, educator, and author and member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe, will deliver the keynote address.

Submission Guidelines

We invite proposals for panels, roundtables, workshops, culinary demonstrations, and panel suggestions. The theme is open and unrestricted but should center on the relationship between indigeneity and food policy. Applicants may submit up to two proposals. We are most interested in grounded, lived experiences.

We welcome proposals from Indigenous scholars, practitioners of traditional knowledge systems, and Indigenous chefs at any career stage. This summit extends beyond Turtle Island. Perspectives from Indigenous communities worldwide are encouraged. Both individual panelist proposals and broader panel ideas are welcome.

We encourage applicants to consider topics such as the pursuit of food sovereignty across different geographies on Turtle Island and beyond; the ways urbanity, generation, gender, class, and queerness shape Indigenous relationships to food systems and policy; and how institutions, policy, and non-Indigenous communities can better support Indigenous food sovereignty. Submissions need not be limited to these topics.

Culinary Demonstrations

The FPC has access to a restaurant-grade kitchen and facilities for this event. We welcome proposals that explore decolonized recipes, ingredients, and culinary practices. While operating on a limited budget, the FPC is able to cover the cost of ingredients and some supplies for cooking demonstrations, workshops, and other hands-on presentations.

Please Note

Funding to assist with travel is unavailable at this time. Limited funding is available to support Indigenous student chefs participating in culinary demonstrations or presentations.

Application Deadline

March 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST

Questions?

Please contact our summit coordinators at info@nycfoodpolicy.org with the subject line "IFPS Question."