Maternal Gift Economy: Breaking Through -
Ongoing Salons
Every two weeks
Salon #85 - The Gift of Food
with Bhanu Natarajan and Indigo Pinedo
October 4, 2025
Indigo Pinedo is a 24-year-old, Cuban-American, nonbinary student at the American University of Rome, pursuing an MA in Food Studies: Sustainable Production and Consumption Policy. Their background is highly diverse, with experience from their bachelor's degree in creative writing and entrepreneurship, a diploma in professional pastry arts, various sustainability communications roles, and managing farmers' markets. You can learn more about their projects and work here.
They are based in Rome and are currently working on their thesis, which proposes a novel Indigenous Matriarchal Approach to the UN Committee on World Food Security. Their research journey has led them to explore modern matriarchal theory, the maternal gift economy, food sovereignty, decolonization, Indigenous rights, and the ecofeminist and deep ecological movements. The overlap and interdependence of these topics inspire them to discover and envision a plural epistemological understanding of food security and nutrition for all, with matriarchy at the center.
Bhanu Natarajan holds a Master’s degree in Biology with research experience in ethnobiology from the University of Oslo. She has published academic papers, popular science articles, and newspaper columns. Over the past 13 years, she has been actively involved in biodiversity issues, including founding a local environmental group.
Through this group, she has raised awareness among schoolchildren and the local community about the importance of biodiversity. In addition, she is passionate about teaching and conducting courses on vegetarian cooking, with a focus on environmental sustainability and health. She has also contributed articles on vegetarian food to the local newspaper, promoting sustainable dietary habits.
She has been active with the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom -IKFF- Norway and working with issues related to the environment.
Bhanu Natarajan resides in Norway and is employed in the public sector. Her work involves promoting educational and job opportunities for immigrants.