The science of narrative and framing to shift mindsets

We are currently renewing our strategic plan at Native Foodways. A core part of our new approach is to focus on narrative change. We believe it is the most important first step in achieving full scale systems change in the native food system. The most important skill in narrative change is framing. 

To develop our strategy, look to the the best in the field. The teams at the Narrative Initiative and Frameworks. If you are interested in systemic change, you need to be interested in narrative change. And to understand narrative change, you might want to look at the work of these two inspiring organisations. 

The founders of Native Foodways were lucky enough to work with the founders of the Narrative Initiative back in the late 2010's. 

To wrap your head around Narrative Change, read this report: Toward New Gravity: Charting a Course for the Narrative Initiative.

To wrap your head around Framing, check out these Essential Resources from Frameworks.

If the idea of narrative and framing is new to you, here are a couple quick definitions.

Narrative - The themes and ideas that permeate collections of stories. Narrative strategy is “a long-term effort to raise certain values and diminish others in ways that engage multiple kinds of narrators and audiences, and that are not bound by short term communications needs,” and community narrative power building is “growing narrative power in the hands of local communities that experience the outcomes of harmful and helpful narratives.”

Framing - Framing refers to the choices we make in what we say and how we say it. Framing matters because it affects how people hear us, what they understand, and how they act. Using the same frames consistently can strengthen and reinforce messaging, and helps move the conversation further and stimulate action faster.

Below is a useful image from a report I'm about to read called: Funding Narrative Change: An Assessment Framework.