Sovereignty from the land & hard work.

On the Standing Rock Reservation, Cannon Ball is considered a food desert, where access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food is extremely limited. Many families must travel long distances to reach grocery stores, and much of what is available locally is processed rather than fresh. This lack of access impacts overall health and well-being, especially for elders and youth.

To address this need, Wozu is planting the Seed of food security. The vision includes developing a 10,000 sq. ft. solar and geothermal-powered grow facility to extend the growing season and ensure year-round production of essential foods. By harnessing renewable energy, the facility will demonstrate sustainable methods of food cultivation adapted to North Dakota’s challenging climate.

This facility will focus on vegetables suited for the region, including hardy crops like potatoes, carrots, beets, cabbage, squash, and beans, alongside greenhouse staples like tomatoes, peppers, and leafy greens. Fruit-bearing plants such as chokecherries, buffalo berries, and juneberries—already part of local tradition—will also be nurtured to support cultural food practices.

Beyond crops, Wozu’s investment in food security extends to meat production, apiculture, and aquaculture. By raising animals ethically, maintaining pollinator habitats, and cultivating fish, the program will provide balanced nutrition while teaching the community about food systems that honor the land.

Food processing and preservation will also be central, ensuring that what is grown and raised locally can be stored, shared. This will create economic opportunities while building resilience against disruptions in food supply chains.

The Seed of food sovereignty is more than a building project—it is a commitment to self-sufficiency, cultural regenerating, and generational health. By bringing fresh, local, and traditional foods back, Wozu is working to transform the narrative of a food desert into a story of abundance and regeneration.