MARQUETTE -- Imagine eating Thanksgiving dinner every night.
Well, for 23 participants in the decolonizing diet project, they're doing something similar to that.
"I thought, what would it be like if we really tried to eat the foods that the native people from this area are prior to colonization," said Native American Studies assistant professor Martin Reinhardt.
For one year, they've committed to eating only indigenous foods of the Great Lakes Region. Since March, they've eaten foods like corn, pumpkin, venison and turkey.
For Reinhardt, he's lost 37 pounds and seen health improvements.
"I came into this with ulcer colitis. I've had this from 1995, and I have not had to deal with that since the beginning of the diet. I was also someone who had acid indigestion every day, and I would take two Tums before I went to bed. I haven't had acid indigestion since," Reinhardt said.
And it has been a real team effort--they hunt, forage, and cook together and have created their own personal recipes, like venison and bison meatloaf. And for some, it's not only improving their physical health, but also mental.
"I feel closer to the earth here, closer to the Great Lakes Region that I grew up in. So that helps me feel more spiritual to be a part of the woods, the water, everywhere we forage," said diet participate Barb Bradley.
Reinhardt is inviting anyone to participate in the DDP mini challenge this upcoming week, when they eat 100 percent indigenous foods.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC