Advancing Indigenous Health Equity Through Food Sovereignty, Activism and Healing
This two-week immersive program in Oaxaca, Mexico invites students to explore Indigenous health equity through land-based learning, community engagement, and traditional healing practices. In partnership with Spanish House MX, participants will learn from Indigenous knowledge holders, traditional ecological practitioners, food sovereignty leaders, and community activists working to advance cultural preservation and environmental stewardship. Through experiential workshops, archaeological site visits, and hands-on cultural activities, students will examine the deep interconnections between land, identity, wellness, and justice in Oaxacan Indigenous communities.

The curriculum weaves together public health, Indigenous studies, environmental justice, and decolonizing methodologies. Students will participate in temazcal (traditional sweat-lodge) ceremonies, medicinal plant workshops, cooking classes, artisan craft sessions, and guided visits to Monte Albán and regional cultural centers. Academic discussions and reflective practices—grounded in Indigenous values of balance, community, respect, and relationality—encourage students to critically examine colonial histories and contemporary movements for Indigenous resurgence.

Participants are housed in centrally located hotels in Oaxaca’s historic center and travel via private transportation for all program activities. With daily breakfast, local coordination, bilingual staff, and structured reflection sessions, the program offers a supportive environment for deep cultural learning. By the end of the experience, students will gain new insights into Indigenous health sovereignty and develop skills that support culturally responsive, community-centered public health practice.

Zoom Link: https://pdx.zoom.us/j/84027427294

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