A Native Community Preserves its Food Traditions

Members of the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation are keeping #TraditionalFoodways alive in the face of #ClimateChange and human impact.

By Allie Hostler
November 21, 2017

Excerpt: "Changes in tribal food systems and lifeways began in 1853 as the #CaliforniaGoldRush brought a mass incursion of #WhiteSettlers. Making way for the newcomers and addressing the '#IndianProblem,' California paid a bounty for Indian scalps, which proved to be more lucrative than panning gold. The first session of the California State Legislature passed the Act for the Government and Protection of Indians in 1850, which legalized removing Natives from their land and separating Native families.

"Ceremonies were ambushed and villages were burned. In 1856, the U.S. government forcibly removed 1,834 #Tolowa to coastal concentration camps. By 1910, like many California tribes, the Tolowa population had dwindled—from more than 10,000 to just 504. Despite the 14th Amendment, the Act for the Government and Protection of Indians was not fully repealed until 1937.

"Relying on the knowledge held by the few families refusing to give up their traditional ways, the Tolowa persevered.

" 'My family managed to hold tight to our food, language, ceremony, songs, beliefs, and protocols,' says Jones. 'We fought to keep connected. We purposefully protected and passed along this way of being so it didn’t die.' "

Read more:
https://civileats.com/2017/11/21/a-native-community-preserves-its-food-traditions/

#SolarPunkSunday
#IndigenousFoodSovereignty
#TraditionalFoods #FoodSovereignty #Foodsecurity #IndigenousAgriculture #TolowaDeeni’ #AnimalProducts #IndigenousFoodSecurity #IndigenousFoodSystems #LandBack
#Reclaiming #Decolonize #CulturalErasure #Genocide #CulturalSurvival

I have a manifesto to make. I didn't intend to make it, but here we are. ✊🏼

As a "white" Hispanic person, my position in this conversation is...idiosyncratic.

One day, I'm a victim of racism. Then next, I'm directly benefiting from white privilege. It all enough to make you dizzy. It depends on the season—my skin color changes drastically with the sun. It depends on how tired or inebriated I am—the Spanish comes out more. It depends on which of my cultural behaviors are showing. And, of course, it depends on the mood of the white person in front of me.

Living on that ridiculous, flimsy line is why I need to talk about "whiteness," and why the "Allyship 101" take isn't enough.

The construct of "whiteness" is a tool of oppression. We know this. But it's not just a weapon aimed at POC. It's also a poison fed to white people. It has robbed them of their actual culture. It stole their German, Irish, Scottish, or Polish heritage and replaced it with an empty, meaningless abyss whose only defining feature is "not being one of them" and appropriating every new fad coming out of the third world country featured on ChildVision this fiscal quarter.

Why does this matter? Because without culture, you have no pride. And pride isn't just about "feeling good." It's about strength.

We, POC, are able to stand against systemic, violent, and often deadly oppression because we have a strength you may not see, and pride is the backbone of that strength.

💠 Chinese Americans know they built the railroads, and they hold that pride even as people shout at them for speaking their own language on their own property.
💠 African Americans know they are the backbone of American culture and vibrancy, and they hold that pride even as the nation punishes them for it.
💠 Hispanics know we created the foundations for international diplomacy, and we hold that pride even as we're told to farm berries and take out the trash.

We are able to live vibrant lives against this impossible burden because we have a shared pride in who we are.

☝🏼 A Quick Note: Yes, "American" is a culture, and a very complicated one involving rites of passage like homecoming and the prom, annual cultural festivals like the Super Bowl and the Academy Awards, cultural milestones like Black Friday and the Opening Day of Major League Baseball (marking the official end of winter in the U.S.), and even our very own cuisine, including delicacies like Chicken Fried Steak and the Chocolate Chip Cookie. We love guns, rock-n-roll, explosions, and we pride ourselves on our love of competition. We are raised to believe that we can do anything if we only set our minds to it (note: intersectionality may cause experiences to vary). And like any culture, it has its negatives: it's xenophobic and exceptionally cruel to people from out-groups. Many Americans seem to think rights are only theirs, and we behave that way on the world stage. We are an obnoxious people for many reasons. Many reasonable. Some less so, like, dude.... Let us smile from time to time. It feels nice. Go read Dostoevsky or something and be frowny over there.

#AntiRacism #Accountability #DeconstructWhiteness #ReclaimCulture #Whiteness #SocialJustice #Race #Discourse #Manifesto #CulturalErasure #CoConspirator #Solidarity #PrideAsStrength #Hispanic #Latine

[CONTINUED IN REPLY]

“Weapons of Health Destruction...” How Colonialism Created the Modern Native American Diet

The Impact of Systematic Oppression on Indigenous Cuisine in the United States

#Frybread, sometimes called “#DieBread” or a “weapon of health destruction,” has multiple origin stories, and they all involve oppression and perseverance.

by Andrea Freeman, July 24, 2024

Excerpt: "On the hit television show #ReservationDogs, the only series ever to feature all #Indigenous writers, directors, and main cast members, the Indian Health Center invites rapper Punkin’ Lusty, played by real-life #Mvskoke rapper #StenJoddi, to perform his hit song '#GreasyFrybread.' [A song Dr. Lowry played during today's broadcast.] The occasion is #Diabetes Awareness Month. Lusty raps,

Baby girl looking deadly (Yeah!)
Why she acting all Rezzy (Yeah!)
Hotter than a pan of frybread grease!
Have a Native hittin’ Powwow Beats!
Gotcha Auntie in the kitchen
Like no he didn’t
Got her Gramama’s skillet
Like she ’bout to kill it!

The song solidly locates frybread within Indigenous culture.

Sofkee [a corn drink or soup] on the burner
Hokte Hokte [woman] head turner
Water baking powder
Choppin’ up that white stuff
All purpose flour
Gotta mix it right up
Hit the Rez with the Shits
They eats it right up! Watch the grease pop
Watch her waist drop
She got that blue bird bag [Blue Bird flour comes in a twenty-pound cloth bag and claims to be “The Native American Frybread Secret”]
In her tank top
he got that white powder
All over everything
She gettin’ to bussin’ man
But we ain’t cousins man!
We from the same tribe
But a different clan
She my Rez Bunny
And I’m her Red Man
She love my Tattoos
And my two braids
Frybread money at the Creek Fest get paid! On that!”

Foregrounding this song in the Health Center’s battle against diabetes underscores the other side of frybread’s legacy, also emblazoned on a T-shirt that announces 'Frybread: Creating #Obesity Since 1860.' #Cheyenne and #HudulgeeMuscogee #IndigenousRights activist #SuzanShownHarjo, who vowed to give up frybread as a New Year’s resolution, explains, 'Frybread is emblematic of the #LongTrails from home and freedom to confinement and #rations. It’s the connecting dot between healthy children and obesity, #hypertension, diabetes, #dialysis, #blindness, #amputations and #SlowDeath.' Reflecting on stereotypes that dehumanized Indigenous people to justify #colonization, such as the worn-out trope of Indians drinking 'firewater,' Harjo asserts that frybread love is another way to portray them as 'simple-minded people who salute the little grease bread and get misty-eyed about it.'

"In The #HeartbeatOfWoundedKnee, scholar #DavidTreuer introduces health educator #ChelseyLuger, who is #Ojibwe and #Lakota. Chelsey talks to Indigenous communities about the perils of frybread as part of her efforts to steer their diets in new directions, even in the face of limited food options. 'Sometimes people get defensive, but we are able to make the conversation positive. We say we grew up with it and like it and we say frybread is not power. We say frybread kills our people. It’s that serious. It causes diabetes and heart disease. We have to look at those colonial foods as a kind of enemy.' "

Read more:
https://lithub.com/weapons-of-health-destruction-how-colonialism-created-the-modern-native-american-diet/

#colonization #Colonialism #Decolonize #NativeAmericans #TraditionalFoods #FoodInsecurity #FoodSovereignty #IndigenousFoodSovereignty #Comods #CommodityBoxes #CulturalErasure

I'm listening to a very interesting broadcast with anthropologist Dr. #DavidShaneLowry (#Lumbee) where he talks about the origins of "#FryBread". Not traditional food (which I suspected), but based on rations given to Native Americans after displacement!

Intercultural Insights
October 14, 2025
On Tue from 11:30 am EST to 12:00 pm EST

Show info:
https://www.wmpg.org/show/tue1130/#

Listen:
www.wmpg.org/archive-player/?show_key=tue1300&archive_key=0

Wikipedia entry on frybread:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frybread

#colonization #Colonialism #CulturalErasure #Starvation #NativeAmericanHistory #NativeAmericans #TraditionalFoods #BoardingSchools #CommodityBoxes #Commods #Rations #Frybread #FoodInsecurity #IndigenousFoodSovereignty

We're Still Here: Why It's Still a Good Day to Be #Indigenous

By Levi Rickert, October 13, 2025

"Opinion. It’s a good day to be Indigenous.

Yes, even now. Even after what we witnessed this past week when the White House issued a proclamation for Columbus Day and failed to acknowledge #IndigenousPeoples’ Day. Even with the return of a presidential administration that has made no secret of its disdain for diversity, equity and inclusion (#DEI) efforts. And even though white nationalists continue to grumble at the idea of honoring Indigenous peoples at all—yes, it is still a good day to be Indigenous.

Being Indigenous doesn’t depend on who sits in the Oval Office. It doesn’t hinge on whether a president utters the words “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” or if federal websites decide to scrub Native achievements from their pages. Our strength is not defined by visibility in colonial spaces. Our strength comes from something much older, deeper, and more enduring.

We are still here.

Let’s talk about what happened. This past Thursday, the White House only released a proclamation for Columbus Day — nothing for Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which has now been recognized in some form by more than 20 states and over 130 cities and towns. That silence was loud. But it wasn’t surprising.

After all, this is the same administration that stormed back into office declaring war on DEI initiatives. Federal agencies began purging mentions of contributions by people of color. Even the Defense Department — prior to renaming itself the Department of War — removed references to the #NavajoCodeTalkers from its website. It took serious backlash from Indian Country for them to quietly restore those mentions.

And just last month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced he would not rescind the Medals of Honor awarded to soldiers who killed as many as 300 Lakota people — most of them unarmed women, children and elders — at the 1890 Wounded Knee massacre. The pattern is clear: This administration will honor those who committed atrocities against Native peoples while erasing the contributions of those who served with distinction.

So no, we weren’t shocked when Indigenous Peoples’ Day was erased at the federal level. But we’re also not deterred. We’ve always had to fight to be seen. And we’ve never needed permission to celebrate ourselves."

Read more:
https://nativenewsonline.net/opinion/we-re-still-here-why-it-s-still-a-good-day-to-be-indigenous

#CulturalHeritage #CulturalPreservation #CulturalErasure #IndigenousPeoplesDay

The "voluntary" nation-building in Afghanistan is a facade, hiding a history of violence, displacement, and cultural erasure. 🩸🗡️ #Afghanistan #NationBuilding #CulturalErasure #Justice #BreakNews

https://kokcha.news/9015/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Oh, I guess we need to focus on how GOOD slavery was -- for white people!!! smh

Trump escalates attacks against Smithsonian museums, says there’s too much focus on ‘how bad slavery was’

By Kit Maher, Piper Hudspeth Blackburn
August 19, 2025

https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/19/politics/trump-slavery-museum-smithsonian

#USPol #TrumpIsARacist #TrumpIsAWhiteNationalist #WhiteSupremacy #SmithsonianMuseum #ErasingHistory #CulturalErasure #Slavery

via @indybay

Tribes, enviros speak out against trailer bills to fast-track #DeltaTunnel project

“Delta tribes deserve a responsible and equitable approach to water management in the state that does not require jamming a tunnel through the Delta, destroying our ancestral homelands and waterways, or desecrating sacred sites and ancestral remains,” said Malissa Tayaba, Vice Chair with the #ShingleSpringsBand of #MiwokIndians.

by Dan Bacher
Mon, Aug 11, 2025 4:19PM

Sacramento, CA – "On an unusually mild summer day, Tribal leaders and environmental justice advocates met with legislators at the State Capitol on July 16 for the 2025 Day of Action for #WaterJustice.

"They urged the legislators to reject Governor Newsom’s proposed trailer bills that they say would fast-track the Delta Conveyance Project (#DCP) and bypass critical #EnvironmentalProtections at a time when the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is in unprecedented ecological crisis — and a number of fish species are on the edge of #extinction.

"The day-long event started with meetings between Tribal members, environmental advocates and legislators to urge support for 'equitable, science-based water solutions' that protect the #BayDelta and to reject the financially reckless Delta Conveyance Project that threatens ecosystems, Tribal sovereignty, and public health, according to a statement from #RestoreTheDelta.

[...]

"At the press conference on the Capitol steps, advocates called on lawmakers to reject trailer bills that would provide CEQA exemptions for the #DeltaConveyanceProject, circumventing existing law, court rulings and public opinion.

"Specifically, the coalition called on lawmakers to:

- Vote NO on SB 72 that undermines the #DeltaReformAct and sets arbitrary water supply targets;

- Vote YES on AB 362 that protects tribal beneficial uses of water and to;

- Vote YES on AB 263, extending emergency protections currently in place for the #ScottRiver and #ShastaRiver, a high priority for the recovery of #CohoSalmon.

"Speakers at the press conference included representatives from the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and the #WinnememWintu Tribe, as well as elected leaders and representatives from Restore the Delta, #SierraClub California, #FriendsOfTheRiver, #DefendersOfWildlife, #SanFranciscoBaykeeper and the #DeltaCountiesCoalition.

"Malissa Tayaba, Vice Chair with the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, began the press conference emphasizing the harm that the Delta Tunnel would cause to Tribes and #disadvantaged communities.

" 'Delta tribes deserve a responsible and equitable approach to water management in the state that does not require jamming a tunnel through the Delta, destroying our #AncestralHomelands and waterways, or desecrating #SacredSites and ancestral remains,' said Tayaba. 'Our culture and identities are intrinsically tied to the Delta. There is no price tag worth paying that would ever justify the harm done to us or the unquantifiable costs that Tribes and disadvantaged communities would ultimately bear.'

"Gary Mulcahy, Government Liaison with the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, followed Tayaba by stating, “There is nothing about the Delta Tunnel Project that significantly benefits anyone except #BigAg and south of the Delta water agencies, while putting #EndangeredSpecies, tribal cultural resources, and disadvantaged communities and the viability of the S.F Bay-Delta itself at risk. #CEQA exemptions continue to attempt to erase Tribes from #WaterGovernance.”

[...]

" 'Instead of wasting ratepayer money to keep pushing this expensive environmental justice debacle, we need to sees investments in local water supply like #RecycledWater, and the Freshwater Pathways program that would improve Delta levees to keep communities safe and improve State Water Project reliability in an emergency. We urge a commitment to vote NO on the return the Delta Conveyance Project and Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan bills,' Wagner said."

https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2025/08/11/18878845.php

#WaterIsLife #TribalGovernance #CulturalPreservation #CulturalErasure #BigAgriculture #BigWater #GavinNewsome #CaliforniaPol #Graywater