​​Roanoke Foodshed Network and Partners present: 

Reclaiming Our Roots: America’s Native Food Trail in Virginia
Amplifying Indigenous Womens’ Voices
Date: Saturday April 12th, 2025
Time: 2pm-5pm
Location: Historic Fishburn Mansion, 714 13th St SW, Roanoke, VA 24016
This event is free and open to the public. To register to attend, visit: https://tinyurl.com/nativefoodways

For more information, please contact Mo McGonagle at Mo@leapforlocalfood.org. ​
J​oin us for this Native foodways event where two Indigenous women leaders share their knowledge and experiences related to food sovereignty and traditional dietary practices. This unique event brings the Indigenous past to the plate, fostering a deeper understanding of the rich culinary traditions that have sustained communities for generations. Sample Virginia’s culturally significant dishes, bring and share seeds, and participate in fun food activities from preparation and connection to exploring the sacredness of food as a source of healing and heritage.

​Victoria Persinger Ferguson is an enrolled citizen of the Monacan Indian Nation of Virginia and is a graduate of Marshall University. Victoria has a background in researching science methodologies to support historical information.  She has spent 30 years seeking first-person documentation and archaeological information to help explain and support theories on the daily living habits of the Eastern Siouan populations up through the early European colonization period.  She has written and presented work at Virginia Tech, Washington and Lee, Sweet Briar College, James Madison University, Mary Baldwin, and various archaeological conferences.  She currently serves as the Program Director for Historic Solitude/Fraction on the campus of Virginia Tech.
René Locklear White, as an active member of her Lumbee Tribe, retired Air Force Lt. Col., and Virginia resident, she has dedicated her life to promoting Indigenous culture and wellness. René earned a Masters in Diplomacy and three Bachelors in Mathematics, Fine Art, and American Indian Studies from her tribal University of N.C. at Pembroke. She is co-founder of the Native American non-profit Sanctuary on the Trail. Through this 501(c)3, she and her husband Chris help leaders first, bring recognition to the contributions of Indigenous Peoples to reduce suffering in the world. She has written and presented food sovereignty work in Virginia, D.C., North Carolina, West Virginia, Minnesota, and South Dakota. As an Indigenous chef, she produced a short film, “Mapping America’s Native Food Trail” and NativeFoodTrail.org. 

These remarkable women will highlight the cultural significance of Native foods, illustrating how these practices connect us to our heritage and promote sustainable ways of nourishment that are vital not only for individual healing but also for the collective well-being of our communities. 
Join us in celebrating the wisdom of our ancestors and the resilience of Native descendants as we work towards a healthier future and present rooted in our shared heritage as caretakers of the Earth.