Recovering our Ancestral Foodways: Indigenous Traditions as a Recipe for Living Well: In Conversation with the Author SYNOPSISJoin the Singapore Sustainable Futures Initiative and the Centre for Commercial Law in Asia for a webinar discussion with Associate Professor Mariaelena Huambachano (Syracuse University), the author of Recovering our Ancestral Foodways: Indigenous Traditions as a Recipe for Living Well. Recovering Our Ancestral Foodways: Indigenous Traditions as a Recipe for Living Well (2024) provides a comprehensive ethnographic study of the philosophies of well-being, traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), and sustainable food systems of the Māori and Quechua peoples. Based on more than ten years of immersive fieldwork in Peru and Aotearoa New Zealand, the book unveils the stories, theories, and practices that demonstrate the intimate connection between the Māori and Quechua peoples. It emphasizes the importance of integrating Indigenous knowledge into sustainable food systems’ policy development and presents an Indigenous food sovereignty framework called the Chakana/Māhutonga. Additionally, the book introduces the Khipu Model, a research methodology for studying Indigenous knowledge systems. Winner of two book awards, "Recovering Our Ancestral Foodways" celebrates Indigenous food sovereignty and the critical role of Indigenous peoples in preserving biodiversity, food systems, and innovation for the well-being of humanity.
Hear about this exciting and important new research directly from the author. This webinar, hosted by Associate Professor and SSFI Head of Research Agenda Michelle Lim (Yong Pung How School of Law), complements SSFI's research and teaching innovations on Sustainable Food Futures.
SPEAKERS
Author:  Associate Professor Mariaelena Huambachano
College of Arts and Sciences, University of Syracuse Dr Huambachano is a native Peruvian Indigenous scholar with strong cultural and professional connections to Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as North America. Currently, she serves as an Associate Professor in Environmental Humanities and Indigenous Studies at Syracuse University. Her research, teaching, and policy work span local to global contexts and are grounded in an interdisciplinary approach that combines Environmental Studies, Indigenous Studies, Food Systems, and Sustainable Development. She has experience as a policy science consultant and has been selected as a scientist and policy adviser for UNESCO and the High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE FSN) and UNDP. In these roles, she focused on elevating the significance of Indigenous knowledge to drive positive global change. As a result, she has contributed to a suite of global reports, including the UNESCO IPBES Values Assessment of Nature policy report and two recent policy reports from the High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition. Recently, UNESCO nominated Dr. Mariaelena Huambachano to the Indigenous and Local Knowledge Expert Task Force for the mandate 20024-2008. Her book, “Recovering Our Ancestral Foodways: Indigenous Traditions as Recipe For Living Well,” which is the winner of two book awards, reflects her expertise and offers invaluable insights into Indigenous food sovereignty, Indigenous philosophies of well-being, environmental justice, sustainable food systems, and policy-making. Host: 
Associate Professor Michelle Lim
Singapore Management University
Michelle Lim is an Associate Professor in Law, School of Law, Singapore Management University and Head of Research Agenda at the Singapore Sustainable Futures Initiative. Her interdisciplinary scholarship occurs at the intersection between biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods. Lim’s work focuses on futures-oriented biodiversity law research aimed at advancing equity and sustainability under conditions of unprecedented environmental change. DETAILSDate: 28 August, Thursday Time: 8am-9:30am SGT Venue: Online event
REGISTRATIONPlease click HERE to register.
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