Mary Goddard, "90-Day Native Challenge"

January 9, 2026. Mary Goddard talks on her 90-Day Native Challenge, where she aimed to reconnect with her Tlingit cultural practices through consuming only locally sourced foods from Alaska for 90 days over the summer of 2025. The reclaiming of a traditional subsistence lifestyles captures the importance of food in cultural identity and the need to rethink modern food systems.

She filmed her journey throughout the challenge resulting in six months of footage for a documentary. Despite facing challenges such as inclement weather and ketosis, Mary found joy in being curious and reconnecting with her heritage. She notes the importance of cultural knowledge for community building, environmental stewardship, and advocates for subsistence food practices.

Mary Goddard is a Tlingit artist and filmmaker. She shared her experiences with the 90-Day Native Challenge on social media and appreciated the unexpected community engagement along the way. More information about Mary Goddard is at her website https://www.alaskamary.com/ blog https://www.forestfreshalaska.com/ or on her YouTube channel    / @alaskamary  .

This is the first event in the 2026 Share Your Culture Share / Your Research presentation series. The series runs through the winter and focuses on subjects connected to Alaska Native cultures. Special thanks to our program sponsor Sea Level Consulting and private donors.