Itadakimasu, ikigai, and wabi-sabi: Poems and reflections on trust after the U.S. Agroecology Summit 2023

Abstract

First paragraphs: “How can I trust you?” Agroecology how? A murmuration Itadakimasu The third panel of the U.S. Agroecology Summit 2023 cen­tered scholars, activists and advocates who, from a variety of institutional positions, have built trusting relationships with farmers and social movements. During the Q and A session, I asked the panel how, in that moment, we might be able to continue to build trust to support relationship-building in the movement for agroecology in North America. The panelists deferred to the audi­ence, and Jonny Bearcub Stiffarm, surrounded by several of her Indigenous sisters, questioned, “How can I trust you?” This question reverberates in my memory of this event. Her response ex­plained how there was a key spirituality dimension that was missing from the program and how that served as a barrier to trust. She explained that she offered silent prayer on behalf of all of us in attendance in recognition of the gifts presented to us in meals, but also in hope that we can all receive each other’s ideas with an open heart. Many others in the audience mur­mured about their own silent prayers, simultane­ously acknowledging the poign­ancy in the remark, but also how many others hold this silent or silenced spiritual dimension. After sharing with a new colleague, Antonio Roman-Alcala, that I was half Japanese, we speculated about sharing the con­cept of Itadakimasu with the group. Itadakimasu is a Japanese way to say grace before a meal—a way to give thanks for the food and in acknowledgment of the work of farmers and cooks and all else in the universe that went into preparing a meal. The fol­lowing morning, there was some intentional space opened up for the group to gather outside. There were several songs, stories, and poems that were shared by Debra Echo-Hawk and others. Inspired by this, I jotted down some haikus in my notebook (which I have, of course, now lost), but I hope to share a bit in this reflection about what ongoing trust-building may look like for agroecology on Turtle Island (North America). . . .