Skip to main content

The Native American cuisine movement is on the rise

The vitality of Native cuisine

Chef Jack Strong.
The Allison / The Allison

Native American cuisine and indigenous food predate any food trend we know by a long shot. Tribes from coast to coast have created culinary styles over thousands of years, utilizing the ingredients that surround them and tried and true cooking techniques. Today, as indigenous peoples rightfully look to reclaim their seat at the table, we’re seeing a rise in Native American cuisine and an entire movement around first foods.

Jack Strong is the executive chef at The Allison Inn & Spa, a luxury resort in the heart of Willamette Valley wine country. The restaurant is known for taking advantage of the many incredible ingredients that thrive in the region. He grew up in Oregon and is a member of the Siletz tribe, touting more than three decades of professional cooking experience to his name. He’s one of relatively few native chefs, but the indigenous food movement is working to change that. After all, a culinary landscape that does not accurately reflect its community or historical context is a faulty one at best.

Recommended Videos

The author and laser-bright culinary mind always knew he would return to Oregon. “I love working with the bounty within the seasons,” the chef says. “As a Pacific Northwest chef, I think Oregon grows everything better! I’m excited to work with even more small-producing local vendors who are making, growing, and creating great local products that rival any part of the country.”

Presently, the chef is thriving in his current role, turning out dishes that strike a tasty balance between ancestral cuisine from the region and new adaptations and techniques.

The beginning

A view of the Oregon coastline approaching Cannon Beach.
Photo by Abhinaba Basu, licensed under Creative Commons, and made available by Wikimedia Wikimedia

“I was raised by my grandmother and grandfather in our little town of Siletz, Oregon,” Strong says. “My grandmother worked for our tribe, and when I was young, I would cook lunch for my grandfather. Over time, I would help my grandmother cook, and I learned about the importance of taking care of others.”

A classic comfort dish sticks with the chef still. “One of my favorite meals was her chicken noodle soup,” he says. “She would make fresh pasta noodles, and after she cut them, I would carry a handful over to the soup pot and drop them in the stock. I’ve always been a cook and feel that being a chef has always been my calling.”

Soon, Strong was off to culinary school at Lane Community College before taking significant roles at restaurants all over the west. He’s commanded kitchens at places like the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa in Phoenix–where he received a James Beard Award nomination–and the JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort and Spa in Scottsdale. And now he’s back home, fittingly cooking up dishes inspired by his roots.

An ancestral cuisine

oyster bed in a bay
Pixabay / Pixabay

“First foods have always been here in the Americas,” Strong says. “As tribal communities establish their food sovereignty, gain access to ancestral lands, tribal entrepreneurship has grown, there has been more opportunity to highlight and showcase the first cuisine of the Americas. There are more native chefs in the industry these days which is a great thing to grow awareness around native cooking and stories.”

The movement continues to march, thanks to standup organizations such as NATIFS, a more adventurous American palate, and a bigger interest than ever in where our food is coming from and how it is sourced. And this is to say nothing of the dark history surrounding indigenous communities in America, long subjected to the horrors of displacement and marginalization.

But there’s hope and the news of late is promising. While native people remain mostly overshadowed in the American culinary realm, they’re making inroads. Acclaimed chefs like Sean Sherman, Inez Cook and more are helping to carry the torch and shed some light on native cuisine and its many facets. The style incorporates so many important aspects, from American history and genuine sustainability to seasonality and culinary innovation.

One of the dilemmas the chef faces is juggling indigenous foods with a contemporary approach. “Depending on the foods, highlighting first foods with modern technique can be more fun than challenging,” he says. “For example, I created an amuse for a recent dinner that showcased Olympia oysters that have been in the Northwest for thousands of years. The dish was made with shucked raw oyster, heirloom tomato gelee (made from tomato water from our Chef’s Garden tomatoes), and pickled chilis (also from our Chef’s Garden). This dish highlighted three first foods, presented well and in an approachable style.”

Strong coauthored a cookbook on the topic called The New Native American Cuisine in 2009. “We had just built the first ever Native American-owned AAA 5 Diamond and Forbes Five-Star restaurant, Kai, at the Sheraton Wildhorse Pass Resort and Spa on the Gila River Indian Reservation in Arizona,” Strong recalls. “We met the author at an event while in New York, and the partnership was born. It was a great project to co-author, and I learned how to write recipes for the home cook, recipe testing, book layout design, food styling, and food photo shoots. The amount of work and passion that goes into a book takes a team, and I was fortunate to be a part of that experience.”

A more reflective culinary landscape

The Allison garden.
The Allison / The Allison

There’s much to do to support the movement and awareness is a great way to get the ball rolling. “We can start by supporting expanded access to ancestral lands, and treaty rights recognition for tribal foods for tribal communities to have access to, representation of and entrepreneurship support for tribal vendors and businesses,” he says. “The more we talk about native cooking and foods, the more voices we can bring to the table.”

Strong is optimistic about the future and it’s fair to say his cookbook and resume have already inspired a number of fellow Native Americans. “There are far more native chefs these days compared to when I was an up-and-coming young cook,” he says. “I have had the honor of collaborating with several chefs, and one of my favorite collaborations was with Nephi Craig (Apache).”

Read more about the vast culinary galaxy. Check out our feature on Italian food and UNESCO recognition and Our Legacy Harvested, a group looking to diversify the Pacific Northwest wine landscape.

Mark Stock
Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since…
Penelope Bourbon releases new American Light Whiskey
Penelope Bourbon is launching a 17-year-old whiskey
Whiskey in a glass

Penelope Bourbon was founded in 2018 and has quickly gained a loyal following while it continues to grow. Its newest release, Penelope American Light Whiskey, is part of the brand’s annual limited releases. These expressions consist of the rarest and longest-aged barrels Penelope has at its disposal.
Penelope American Light Whiskey

Penelope American Light Whiskey begins with a mash bill of 99% corn and 1% malted barley. It was distilled at the historic Seagram’s site in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, which is now known as Ross & Squib Distillery. It was matured for seventeen years in second-fill oak barrels before being bottled at a robust 138.8-proof.

Read more
How to clean a Nespresso machine, from descaling to cleaning
Your maker is probably long overdue for a cleaning
Nespresso maker

I'm the first to admit my Nespresso machine is long overdue for a cleaning. Over time, I've noticed my machine getting slower to brew my espresso in the morning and making unusual noises. Usually, I focus solely on brewing my espresso and moving on with my busy day. Recently, I finally got around to performing a deep cleaning and descaling of the maker (after longer than I care to admit). Unsurprisingly, the cleaning has made a huge difference in the machine's functionality and, more importantly, the taste of my coffee. Here's how to clean a Nespresso machine when you're (finally) ready to stop neglecting it.
Why clean your Nespresso machine

Understanding the "why" behind cleaning your Nespresso machine can help motivate you to get it done. A Nespresso machine that is not adequately cleaned and maintained is susceptible to growing mold and bacteria due to the damp environment of the machine, especially in areas where water accumulates. Not only does this mean your next espresso cup could be contaminated, but it's probably not taste as fresh as it could. Once I learned this, I felt inspired to give my Nespresso machine the deserved cleaning.
How to clean a Nespresso machine

Read more
How to make overnight oats: The no-cook breakfast with big nutritional benefits
Learn the perks of this tasty breakfast food
Banana flax seeds overnight oats with banana slices and almonds

Oats are among the healthiest grains because they are excellent sources of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and even antioxidants. Thus, it is little wonder that several products on the market are oat-based or contain oats in some form.

As a trainer and nutritionist, I always recommend oats to my clients, as they help provide fuel for workouts and are a low-calorie option for those looking to lose weight. It’s normal to see oatmeal in most diet plans. But do you always have to cook your oats for maximum nutritional benefits?

Read more