Savoring Stories: Indigenous Foodways and Community Building at la Mesa

In collaboration with the Yale Sustainable Food Program's Chewing the Fat Speaker Series, La Casa Cultural, and the Traphagen Alumni Speakers Series, Yale College Office of Student Affairs, “Savoring Stories: Indigenous Foodways and Community Building at la Mesa” will occur at La Casa. Woesha Hampson-Medina '18 will hold a conversation on the consequential role of communal dining in community development. The dining table is at the centerpiece of shared storytelling during meals and the cultivating of a collective sense of belonging. All are invited to contemplate the cultural, emotional, and social dimensions inherent in communal dining experiences, discerning the remarkable ability of food to foster enduring connections within communities. During this event, La Casa Cultural will also unveil a kitchen mural, designed by student Rebecca Sosa-Coba ’26 with input from the La Casa community, and painted by the community. The mural, depicting a long table with a diverse array of culturally symbolic grains and dishes, shows a vibrant scene of both people and food, together at the table. This event is free and open to the Yale community and beyond. Registration is required for both Yale-affiliated people and those who have no Yale-affiliation via YaleConnect.

Expansion on the event:
At Yale, Woesha’s love of food drove her to be a Chemistry Major; Her knowledge of cooking and baking brought the founding of the Native American Cultural Center’s “Baking and Bonding”; Her senior thesis was about Kimchee and all of its fermenting intricacies. Now, with a career revolving around Native foodways, we thought that she would be the perfect speaker to continue the celebrations and discussions around food at La Casa and in La Casa’s history. Furthermore, she shows a pathway for students interested in pursuing food-based careers.

This event will be in dialogue with the unveiling of the kitchen mural. More specifically, we hope to highlight the importance of food and cultural identity, the importance and presence of Indigeneity in a space such as La Casa, and the importance of alumni who have made and continue to be a part of La Casa’s vibrant community.

Yale Sustainable Food Program | Website | View More Events

Fafa Van Ha
Co-hosted with: La Casa Cultural Julia de Burgos: The Latino Cultural Center at Yale, Yale College Cultural Centers

Contact the organizers