by David Flint
In celebration of American Indian Heritage month, members of the Stephentown Historical Society were pleased to partake of some authentic Native American cuisine at their meeting Monday evening. The foods were prepared by Lisa Little Wolf of Great Barrington, MA, who hails from the Northern Cheyenne tribe. Little Wolf brought buffalo stew, frybread, cornbread and Indian donuts made with corn meal. In her talk on Native American cuisine, she explained how at every ceremony and every gathering her people are most concerned to make sure that everyone is fed well.
Coming from a tradition of living off the land, the Indian nations made much use of local crops, plants, berries, fruits and nuts. But each nation had their own food traditions. Many of them were nomadic and so experienced a wide variety of foods. For the Northern Cheyenne, elk and buffalo were staples but, viewing the animals as their brothers and sisters, the Cheyenne were respectful and cautious about taking their lives. And every part of the slain animals was used – nothing went to waste. Little Wolf’s grandmother is from the Apache tribe, so when she visits, the meals served will always feature corn. In the Washington and Oregon area and up into Alaska salmon was the major food. On the East coast Native Americans relied on the “three sisters” companion plants of corn, beans and squash. Shellfish, maple sugar and cranberries were also staples along the East coast.
Little Wolf noted that while living conditions are still very bad on many Indian reservations, particularly in the West, there is a movement toward bringing back an awareness of living close to the land and regaining the old skills. Many are combining this with entrepreneurial endeavors. An example of this is the Bineshii company of northern Minnesota that ships wild rice and other Ojibway foods such as frybread and natural blueberry, raspberry and strawberry jams. Others have taken to new endeavors such as harvesting coffee or raising cattle.
Little Wolf brought a guest with her, Mariann Mantzouris of Glass Lake, the President of the Native American Institute of the Hudson River Valley, an organization that supports and carries out research and educational activities promoting awareness of Native American culture and experience in this area. Mantzouris said the Institute will take an active part in next year’s commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s voyage, presenting the Native American perspective and focusing on the Mohican people. On April 4, 2009, the annual Algonquian Peoples Seminar will be held at the New York State Museum in Albany.
Little Wolf closed her talk with an Indian prayer of thanksgiving before meals. Asking the blessing of the Creator on the people and the food, it continued, “Let me always hear the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.”