It's not every day headquarters has a nomadic tent on its premises! As part of the week-long celebrations that make up the World Food Forum, a delegation of more than 50 Indigenous Peoples’ leaders, youth, chefs and artists from all corners of the planet will participate in the global discussions for the future of food, youth action, science and innovations and investment.

The Boaššu FoodLab is a nomadic tent and mobile kitchen from the Sámi People and stands rather strikingly at around twice the height of the Atrium entrance. From today through Friday it will host different activities led by Indigenous Peoples and supported by the Indigenous Peoples Unit to share knowledge and influence policy debates on the transformation of agrifood systems for healthy diets and a healthy planet. Find the agenda here. Fun fact - the word Boaššu means kitchen in the Sámi People language.

As part of the activities of the World Food Forum, Indigenous youth representatives from different regions of the world will present a call to action for the preservation of their ancestral territories and participate in the different discussions being held at the forum.

In addition, Renata Flores from the Quechua People and Atama Catama from the Huguan People will perform live in a concert focused on the theme "Healthy diets. Healthy planet".

The delegation of Indigenous Peoples will take part in the different discussions and activities of the World Food Forum and of the Science and Innovation Forum to highlight the vital role of Indigenous Peoples’ food and knowledge systems.

This week, every morning at 9:00, have your coffee and listen to the Food for the Future podcast, which will feature dedicated sessions led by Indigenous youth, including interviews and discussions with chefs, singers, academics, colleagues and policymakers.

Don’t forget to add this track to your playlist, it's the soundtrack of the Boaššu Indigenous nomadic tent “Wyirrt Wyirrt (Food for the Country)” on SoundCloud or on Spotify. Featured by the Family Shoveller Band from the Bidyadanga People, and the group Formidable Vegetables, is the hard-hitting version of the traditional song from Karajarri Country in Western Australia which was sung by the band's great-great-great-great grandmother as she walked the country gathering food. When she arrived, she planted a baobab tree seed (an important bush food in the Kimberley region), which grew into a huge tree that still stands today.

Each day, the nomadic tent will host different discussions around the fire relevant to Indigenous Peoples on climate change, preservation of food systems, knowledge and territorial management of Indigenous Peoples with policy makers, academics, members and experts from FAO and other UN agencies. All participants are welcome to join the discussions. In addition, the nomadic Boaššu tent will host dynamic dialogues on Indigenous youth and innovation, Indigenous women in art, Indigenous Peoples biocentric restoration and much more.  

The Boaššu FoodLab will host cultural activities related to Indigenous Peoples' food systems and the future of food. Chef Mokgadhi Itsweng, from the Balobedu tribe in South Africa, and Mariah Gladstone, an Indigenous influencer from the Blackfeet, will share their experience in promoting the preservation of Indigenous Peoples' food systems through cooking and social media. A team of Sámi chefs will offer a Sámi food tasting, while Chef Alfredo Oropeza will celebrate ten years of collaboration with FAO through a Mexican evening. Furthermore, there will be a unique innovation lab of bee communication.

Visit the Boaššu FoodLab tent to sit around the fire, or join virtually!

Find more information here.