Five Favorite Things | November 2022

Posted by: Coral & Tusk

Welcome back to Five Favorite Things! November is National Native American Heritage month and this edition of Five Favorite Things includes resources for supporting Indigenous-led businesses and organizations. Read on for the full five!

North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NĀTIFS)

donate text

We’re donating 10% of profits from table runners, table cloths and napkins in the month of November to North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NĀTIFS).

One of NĀTIFS projects is the Indigenous Food Lab, a professional Indigenous kitchen and training center. The kitchen is at the heart of NĀTIFS’ work to establish a new Indigenous food system that reintegrates Native Foods and Indigenous-focused Education into tribal communities across North America.

Support NĀTIFS’ work directly by making a donation.

The "Sioux Chef" Sean Sherman on Fresh Air from NPR

We enjoyed listening to this interview with NĀTIFS founder Sean Sherman, also known as The Sioux Chef. Sherman speaks with host Dave Davies about the inspiration for the Indigenous Food Lab, how he came to found a non-profit, and speaks about an article he wrote about Thanksgiving for Time Magazine in 2016 that is definitely worth a read before sitting down at the table next Thursday.

Shash’ Dine Eco Retreat

Owned and operated by a multi-generational Navajo family on Navajo land, Shash’ Dine is an unforgettable, beautiful experience! The eco retreat is also a working ranch, with sheep and goats, and is tended by two beautiful Great Pyrenees dogs.

Stephanie was lucky enough to visit Shash’ Dine earlier this fall and stay in the Hogan, which is a traditional shelter made of earth and juniper logs. If you find yourself in the area and are interested in exploring Horseshoe Bend and the spectacular slot canyons, Stephanie highly recommends booking tours with Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon Tours. They are a majority native Navajo-owned tour company. The Sierra Club has further resources for supporting Indigenous-owned tourist operations here.

Get informed about how tribal and Native sovereignty granted under the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) is currently under attack. The Supreme Court heard arguments last week for Brackeen v. Haaland, a case that threatens to end the protections that are granted by the ICWA. If you’re interested in learning more, this Mother Jones article is a great place to start. Follow @protectICWA and visit their link page for a plethora of resources.

The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen

cook text

Need a recipe to bring to Friendsgiving? Try Sean Sherman’s Owamni Sweet potatoes with maple chili crisp, available online at Food + Wine here.

Check out Sherman’s award-winning cookbook, The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen for more recipes made of indigenous and seasonal ingredients.