The theme for this year's Global Awareness Conference is indigenous food sovereignty.  Indigenous food sovereignty is an activist movement advocating for indigenous people's right to control their own food sources and distribution, rather than relying on megacorporations for their food.

The opening conference talk will be given by Angela Ferguson.  Angela Ferguson is a member of the Onondaga Nation Eel Clan. She has been the Onondaga Nation Farm Crew Supervisor since 2015. The farm is responsible for all aspects of Food Sovereignty within their community.  

She is also one of the Braiding the Sacred Organizers. The latter have gathered hundreds of Indigenous Corn Growers together to share knowledge from respected elders, seed sharing and planting methods.