​Indigenous Peoples in cultural homelands of the most rural areas of developing regions experience challenges in using their traditional food systems and to ensure food security and health despite the treasures of food biodiversity that could support well-being. This book, featuring a chapter by Center Faculty Associate Gail G. Harrison, is the third in a series promoting use of local food systems by indigenous peoples.

The authors describe processes and findings from more than 40 interdisciplinary collaborators who created health promotion interventions for communities using local food systems. Included are participatory processes using local knowledge and activities specifically for local food; global overviews of Indigenous Peoples' health circumstances, environmental concerns, and infant and child feeding practices; and nine specific case examples from Canada, Japan, Peru, India, Colombia, Thailand and the Federated States of Micronesia. Common themes of successful interventions and evaluations are given along with chapters on human rights issues and implications for policies and strategies. Throughout the 10 years of this research the authors have shown the strength and promise of local traditional food systems to improve health and well-being. 

Harrison co-authored the second chapter, "Health disparities: promoting Indigenous Peoples' health through traditional food systems and self-determination."

• Harriet V. Kuhnlein
• Gail G. Harrison, PhD
• et al