MINNEAPOLIS — If the saying is true: “You are what you eat,” then good nutrition is imperative for healthy communities.The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) and American Heart Association (AHA) co-hosted Fertile Ground II: Growing the Seeds of Native Health in Minneapolis, Minn., May 2-4, creating targeted dialogue between tribal representatives, funders and government agencies aimed at raising awareness of the food crisis in Indian Country.Fertile Ground I was an initial gathering of more than 40 tribal, nonprofit and funding organizations Oct. 14-15, 2015. The success of the first event spurred the creation of Fertile Ground II only six months later.The Seeds of Native Health campaign to improve the nutrition of Native Americans was launched in March 2015 with a $5 million contribution from the SMSC. Through the campaign, the tribe has brought together top experts and philanthropists in an effort to develop permanent solutions to this problem.Event organizers saw the conference as a way to continue defining the scope of the issue and joining forces to address the impact of historical trauma as it relates to food systems in a way that supports tribal sovereignty.More than 200 tribal members, health care providers and philanthropy representatives attended panel presentations, participated in targeted work groups and exchanged best practices for Native communities when it comes to developing food policy and programs at the local, tribal, state and federal levels.Read more.   © Native Health News Alliance. This story was produced with support from the American Heart Association.