Jody Gzhadawsot Mattena

BossLady Anish

Indigenous Food Sovereignty, Saturday, December 7th, 2:00 PM, Room 303

Jody Gzhadawsot Mattena was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her family moved to Tennessee in 2013 and she currently runs a small farm with her husband and teenage son. Her daughter is attending the University of Massachusetts in the PhD program in Archeology and is also an author and teacher. Gzhadawsot is an Ojibwé, Ottawa, and Bodéwadmi descendant and an enrolled citizen of the Citizen Band Potawatomi, Loon Clan. Knowing her heritage and reconnecting to her language, people, and culture has brought much healing and led her to the path and importance of Food Sovereignty and the Spiritual wealth found in the community. Reading books, expanding knowledge, and learning as much as possible have always been her passion; now she is beyond honored to contribute as an author.

Gzhadawsot has not attended culinary school but learned from those who walked before her; her grandmothers, mother, and friends from around the world. She truly believes that food brings people together and feeds not only the body but also the Spirit. Connecting deeper into her Bodéwadmi culture, family history, language, and foods has brought a healing energy and an enormous sense of home and reconciliation. 

Gzhadawsot is known on social media platforms as “BossLady Anish'' and shares foraging, cooking, and other Indigenous content.  She has worked in the Food Sovereignty department as a Lifeways Consultant for the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi (NHBP) since 2022, filming an Indigenous cooking show for NHBP’s Food Sovereignty Series (Two Seasons). She also serves as a founding board member for Tabibu Africa, Inc. since 2012.
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