One of the most asked questions we get either via email, in response to meal kits we’ve done, or just people stopping us in the IFL, is “where can I buy Indigenous foods or food products?” A large part of our mission at NĀTIFS is to promote and provide access to Indigenous food vendors to help reestablish Native foodways. Below is a list of some of our most used purveyors here at the food lab.
Dream of Wild Health: A Native American run farm located in Hugo, MN. They are one of the only Indigenous led farms in Minnesota and are playing a unique role in the Twin Cities’ Indigenous communities by distributing thousands and thousands of pounds of produce via youth programs, Indigenous Food Share CSA, farmers markets, and donations. You can find them at the Four Sisters Farmers Market in Minneapolis.
Ramona Farms: A family run farm located on the Gila River Indian Reservation in Arizona. In the mid 70s, the tepary bean was near extinct, but thanks to Ramona Button’s father for saving a few seeds of the tepary bean, Ramona Farms was able to cultivate the bean. The farm now grows different variations of tepary beans, wheat berries, and heritage corn among a handful of other products. You can find them at the IAC Farmer’s Market in Madison, WI or online at store.ramonafarms.com.
Red Cliff Fish Co: Owned and operated by the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in Red Cliff WI. The Indigenous peoples of Lake Superior have been fishing Lake Superior for countless generations with an emphasis on sustainability and harmony with the environment. Lake Superior is the largest, deepest, and cleanest freshwater lake in the world and the unique ecosystem off the coast of the Apostle Islands is home to whitefish, lake trout, walleye, and lake herring among many other species. You can find them at their fish market in Bayfield, WI, and very soon in an online marketplace on their website.
Red Lake Nation Fishery: Owned and operated by the Red Lake Band of Ojibwe. Using knowledge from tribal elders passed down through generations, tribal fishermen harvest from the Red Lakes in a sustainable manner. Having been operating since 1919, Red lake Walleye is world famous, but they also offer perch, crappie, northern, and whitefish. You can find them online at redlakewalleye.com/shop
Red Lake Nations Foods: Owned and operated by the Red Lake Band of Ojibwe, in Redby, MN. They are the only Native American tribe to cultivate wild rice on their local lands. Their wild rice is most notable and gets shipped all over the world, but they also sell herbal teas, jams and jellies, syrup, as well as other dry goods and handmade gifts. You can find them online at redlakenationfoods.com/shop
Wozupi Tribal Gardens: Owned and operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community in Prior Lake, MN. They grow a variety of certified organic produce including fruits, veggies, and native edible plants. Wozupi also runs a native plant nursery with a small garden for seed-saving. You can find their Indigenous-grown foods at Mazopiya Natural Food Market in Prior Lake, MN.
Bow and Arrow Corn: A part of the Ute Mountain Ute Farm and Ranch Enterprise run by the Ute mountain Ute Tribe in Towaoc, CO. Since 1962, the tribe has been following modern sustainability practices to produce their award-winning NON-GMO corn products. They offer different color varieties of corn and cornmeal through their online store at bowandarrowbrand.com/products or by phone.
