American Indian Culture and Research Journal

Native American agriculturalists in Oklahoma have been attempting to decolonize their agricultural livelihoods in the face of obstacles to obtain funding and preserve traditions. These efforts were born in part due to power struggles with government and financial institutions in obtaining agricultural loans and funding and with corporate and government entities to preserve culturally important seeds and foods. This commentary describes the efforts of these agriculturalists to organize in the face of continued struggle, efforts that can be viewed as prideful acts of resistance to tear down roadblocks and to publicize their plights and gain support. These actions appeal to the value of local traditional knowledge, cultural identity, revitalization of traditions and community, agricultural independence, and grassroots self-determination.