Living Earth 2023: Oka (Water)

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma citizen Kaben Smallwood leans on his heritage, lessons from his Choctaw family, and his business experience to guide his discussion of Choctaw history, Indigenous agricultural practices, and how he applies ancient Indigenous principles to his modern-day sustainable agriculture company, Symbiotic Aquaponic. Aquaponics combines aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (the growing of plants without soil) to grow fish and plants together in one integrated system. The fish waste provides an organic food source for the plants, and the plants naturally filter water for the fish.

Kaben Smallwood (Choctaw) was selected by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to serve on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s inaugural Secretary’s Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture. Smallwood, who lives in McAlester, Oklahoma, was nominated for this role by Choctaw Chief Gary Batton and was chosen from more than 300 applicants nationwide. Smallwood is the co-founder and CEO of Symbiotic Aquaponic, a family-owned and operated business that uses aquaponics, a food production system that combines aquaculture with hydroponics to grow all-natural produce. Aquaponics uses less water than other farming techniques and makes it possible to cultivate fresh, locally grown food for socially and economically disadvantaged communities.