Raymond Foxworth: Improve health through food sovereignty

On July 17, 2013, the Navajo Nation Legislative Council was called on to consider a historical piece of legislation regarding food sovereignty of the Nation – the implementation of a two percent sales tax on junk food sales occurring on the reservation. Sponsored by Councilman Danny Simpson, the act called for taxation on soda, sugar-sweetened beverages and junk food being sold across the Navajo Nation while also calling for the elimination of a tribal sales tax on fresh fruits and vegetables. The “Navajo Nation Junk Food Sales Tax Act of 2013” (legislation No. 0085-13) proposed that revenue generated from the sales tax be redistributed to Navajo Nation chapters and designated for community health and wellness projects.

Though defeated after a close vote and roughly four hours of floor debate, the Navajo Nation became the first Indian nation to propose such legislation. With this historic effort, the Nation joined an exclusive and limited number of legislative efforts by other governing bodies across the United States that have started to examine the negative effects of sugary foods and beverages on health, and explore potential legislative action to combat these issues.