Empowering Indigenous Youth Through Food: How Newman’s Own Is Fueling Food Justice

Newman’s Own Foundation is making a meaningful impact in Indigenous communities by investing in food sovereignty, cultural traditions, and youth-led education. Their Indigenous Food Justice program helps reconnect Native youth with their food heritage — from growing traditional crops to cooking ancestral meals — while building holistic well-being and resilience for future generations.

Many Indigenous communities have faced historic barriers to their traditional food systems. Colonization, land dispossession, and lack of access to healthy, culturally relevant foods have deeply disrupted Indigenous ways of growing, gathering, and sharing food. Newman's Own Foundation+1

These conditions contribute to serious health risks: for example, chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes disproportionately impact Indigenous youth. Newman's Own Foundation

Recognizing these challenges, Newman’s Own Foundation sees an opportunity to support reclaiming Indigenous food sovereignty. Their approach centers on rematriating traditional foods, restoring Indigenous stewardship over food resources, and nurturing Indigenous children’s connection to their cultural food systems. Newman's Own Foundation

In 2024 alone, the Foundation awarded $2.7 million to 39 grantee partners focused on Indigenous Food Justice. Newman's Own Foundation These funds go to organizations, tribal governments, and schools that are working on the ground to revive food practices, educate young people, and restore culturally rooted food systems. Newman's Own Foundation

Here are some standout grantee partners and how they’re driving change:

• Cheyenne River Youth Project – Located on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota, this program includes a 2.5-acre Winyan Toka Win (“Leading Lady”) Garden, teen internships, and a Garden Club for youth aged 4–12. Newman's Own Foundation Through this work, young people learn how to grow food, care for the land, and reconnect with their cultural food heritage. Newman's Own Foundation

• Chickahominy Indian Tribe – Based in Virginia, they run youth programs where tribal children build and tend raised garden beds. Newman's Own Foundation These activities center on traditional cultivation methods and the transfer of intergenerational knowledge.

• Dream of Wild Health – This Minnesota-based organization supports Indigenous youth by restoring knowledge around ancestral foods, medicines, and lifeways. They host workshops, community events, and culturally rooted food education. Newman's Own Foundation

• Ma Ka Hana Ka ʻIke – Based in Hāna, Hawaiʻi, this program provides hands-on learning rooted in Hawaiian culture, environmental stewardship, and food. In 2024, 96% of participating youth reported a stronger connection to Hawaiian values, and 100% said their culinary and farming skills improved. Newman's Own Foundation

• GBH’s “Molly of Denali” – Through this PBS KIDS animated series, young children learn about Alaska Native cultural foods and practices. It doesn’t just entertain — it also introduces traditional foods and food ways to a broader audience. Newman's Own Foundation

• Zuni Youth Enrichment Project (ZYEP) – At Zuni Pueblo, this afterschool and community program nurtures resilience among Indigenous youth. Since partnering with Newman’s Own, around 1,800 children have participated, and their awareness of traditional healthy foods grew significantly — from 35% to 57%. Newman's Own Foundation One third-grader even shared excitedly:

  “My favorite thing about the afterschool program was when we got to cook stuff … my favorite was Zoodles!” Newman's Own Foundation

Newman’s Own is not just supporting isolated activities — the foundation is focused on shifting power and long-term systems change. Their Indigenous Food Justice priorities include giving Indigenous communities control over food systems and supporting holistic health — physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Newman's Own Foundation

They also formally dig into innovation. For example, Newman’s Own launched the Food Justice for Kids Prize, which awarded $1.2 million over two years to 12 nonprofits, tribes, and schools working on youth food justice initiatives. Newman's Own Foundation+2Newman's Own Foundation+2 Among the winners were tribal governments and grassroots organizations focused on Indigenous food sovereignty. Newman's Own Foundation

• In 2025, Newman’s Own awarded an Evidence Grant to the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project to support the revival of traditional buffalo herding, strengthen food systems, and deepen cultural ties to land. Texas Tribal Buffalo Project

• Their work is being recognized alongside other major changemakers: the foundation partnered with the Hunger to Health Collaboratory (H2HC) to award innovation prizes to programs advancing food justice, including Indigenous food justice. Newman's Own Foundation

By funding these programs, Newman’s Own Foundation is helping Indigenous youth reclaim traditions that were disrupted by centuries of cultural dislocation. This work:

1. Reconnects young people with their heritage. Through gardening, cooking, and storytelling, youth engage with ancestral knowledge and practices.

2. Improves nutrition. Access to healthy, culturally relevant foods helps combat chronic health challenges disproportionately affecting Indigenous communities.

3. Builds leadership and resilience. Programs like internships, community organizing, and entrepreneurship prepare young people to become stewards of their communities.

4. Supports community sovereignty. By shifting control of food systems back to Indigenous people, Newman’s Own helps strengthen self-determination and long-term sustainability.

In conclusion, Newman’s Own Foundation’s Indigenous Food Justice initiative is more than charity — it’s a powerful investment in culture, health, and self-determination. Through ongoing grantmaking, partnerships, and youth-centered programs, they are helping Native communities harvest not just food, but a thriving future rooted in tradition.