FOCUS
Connection to culture, land, and traditional food are protective factors that have always been known by Indigenous peoples everywhere. As a prevention science student, Sooyoun studies intergenerational transmission of risk and resilience from a lifespan perspective, and how preventative programs and interventions acknowledge the complex, intersectional and systemic issues that impact health and well-being. Her research focuses on supporting culturally-grounded preventative programs with Indigenous families, specifically those which center connection to land and traditional food. Restoring Indigenous food systems not only provides physical nourishment, but also cultivates spiritual and emotional healing. This work is grounded in the deep belief that a society which uplifts and honors Indigenous life and ways will also be one that uplifts the lives of all people, particularly those who have been oppressed and marginalized since the inception of this country. She is deeply grateful to the communities she has the privilege of working with, who continue to guide her in advancing health equity.
MORE ABOUT SOOYOUN
As a daughter of Korean immigrants and a first-generation student, Sooyoun feels passionately about culturally informed and linguistically accessible care and education for all people. She is also hopeful for a future in which all people have the ability to feel deeply connected to land, food, and each other.
