NORTH AMERICAN TRADITIONAL INDIGENOUS FOOD SYSTEMS

Indigenous Food Sovereignty Initiative

As a participant in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Indigenous Food Sovereignty Initiative, NĀTIFS works with its Indigenous Food Lab and partner Indigenous chefs across the country to develop recipes and accompanying cooking videos that demonstrate how to combine Indigenous & locally forageable foods with items available to tribal communities through the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) federal emergency food program. The forageable foods featured in the recipes are identified by partner Indigenous foragers from each region who also develop plant identification sheets and videos to demonstrate how to identify and responsibly harvest these Indigenous foods. Through this project  NĀTIFS aims to spread awareness of how to use Indigenous foods to make healthier meals.

Northeastern Region

Recipes + Videos

Northeastern U.S.

Salmon & Beach Pea Pesto Pasta

Savory Crepes with Foraged Filling

Shagbark Hickory-Glazed Pork with Wild Rice & Pinto Beans

Strawberry Coulis with Cinnamon Maple Whipped Cream & Sweet Crêpes

Three Sisters Inspired Succotash with Fiddleheads

Wild Salmon with Pumpkin & Mushroom Purée, Crispy Rice, & Sweet Ferns

Forageable Plants

Northeastern Region

Northeastern Region Indigenous and Wild Plant List

BEACH PEAS • ELDERBERRY • FIDDLEHEADS • JERUSALEM • ARTICHOKE • SEAWEED • SHAGBARK HICKORY • SUGAR MAPLE • SWEET FERN • WILD STRAWBERRY • WOOD SORREL

Download PDF

Southeastern Region Recipes

Recipes + Videos

Southeastern U.S.

Macaroni Salad with Foraged Greens

Granma Ester’s Catfish Stew

Bison Bake with Foraged Green Salad

Momma’s Chicken Casserole with Pokeweed

Summer Burger with Wild Strawberry Sauce

Traditional Long-Cook Berry Jam

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Watch on YouTube

AMERICAN PAWPAW • AMERICAN PERSIMMON • DOGFENNEL • LAMB’S QUARTERS • MUSCADINE GRAPES • PASSIONFRUIT• POKEWEED • POOR MAN’S PEPPER • RED MULBERRY • WILD BERGAMOT

Download PDF

Forageable Plants

Southeastern Region

Southeastern Region Indigenous and Wild Plant List

Watch on YouTube

Midwest-Mountain Plains

Recipes + Videos

Midwest-Mountain Plains U.S.

Chicken + Nettle Pozole

Corn Chowder With Wild Plantains & Salmon

Cornmeal Griddle Cakes + Blueberries + Groundcherry Sauce + Mint

Mulberry Rosehip Bars

Vegetarian Wild Rice Bowl

Bison Meatballs with Dandelion Tomato Sauce & Pasta

Watch on YouTube

Forageable Plants

Mountain Plains Region

Mountain Plains Region Indigenous and Wild Plant List (PDF, 1.2 MB), prepared by Lisa Iron Cloud

SUMAC • SALTBUSH • LAMB’S QUARTERS • GROUND CHERRIES • WILD ONIONS • PRICKLY PEAR • SEGO LILY • WILD MINT • ACORNS • MILKWEED • CATTAIL

Midwest Region Indigenous and Wild Plant List (PDF, 1.6 MB), prepared by Linda Black Elk

DANDELION • STINGING NETTLES • CUTLEAF TOOTHWORT • ROSE HIPS • PURSLANE • GOLDENROD • MULBERRY • PAWPAWS • SOCHAN • PLANTAIN

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Download PDF

Western-Southwest

Recipes + Videos

Western-Southwest U.S.

Baked Pear Blueberry Crisp

Bay Laurel Beef Stew Shepherd’s Pie

Chicken Veggie Stir Fry with Manzanita

Peach California Huckleberry Smoothie

Pancakes with Salmonberry

Pinto Bean Dip with Roasted Pine Nuts

Watch on YouTube

Forageable Plants

Western – Southwest Region

Southwest Region Indigenous and Wild Plant List (PDF, 1.5 MB), prepared by Addelina Lucero

CALIFORNIA BAY LAUREL • CALIFORNIA HUCKLEBERRY • MANZANITA • TANOAK • BLACK OAK • COASTAL LIVE OAK • BLACKBERRY • SALMONBERRY • CALIFORNIA FOOTHILL PINE • COUTLER PINE • BEAKED HAZELNUTS

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