Indigenous foods are some of the most difficult cultural foods to access; The Indigenous Food Lab brings them right home to your kitchen.
NĀTIFS is an organization dedicated to addressing the economic and health crises affecting Native communities by re-establishing Native foodways. Part of our mission is operating the Indigenous Food Lab - a professional Indigenous kitchen and training center at the heart of NĀTIFS work establishing a new Indigenous food system.
The IFL Market is the first of its kind in Minneapolis; a pilot from NĀTIFS that will be replicated elsewhere throughout North America to support Indigenous food access and enterprise development. The Indigenous Food Lab Market will further improve access to and educate about Native foods.
“This is planting a seed for what is possible for Indigenous food access in the future: our first market is just the beginning,” said Chef Sean Sherman(Lakota). “A big part of Indigenous food sovereignty includes access to these foods and ingredients; the market is a key component of our Indigenous Food Lab, along with the professional Indigenous kitchen and demonstration studio. Our expansion plan includes opening Indigenous Food Labs across the country.”
The Indigenous Food Lab Market includes dozens of Indigenous vendor products, featuring pantry staples like single-sourced cacao products, Indigenous-grown staple foods like wild rice, corn, honey and beans, masa products, teas and maple syrup, as well as barbecue sauce, hot sauce and snack foods.
“We’re so proud of the network we’ve created with Indigenous vendors from around North America, including Ramona Farms, Anahata Herbals, Native Wise, Bow and Arrow,” says the IFL market manager. “The market will give each of our partners a real opportunity to reach consumers, and in the process, educate about Indigenous products and their uses.”
The Indigenous Food Lab will also offer a Spirit Kitchen for Indigenous food entrepreneurs to test products, and an education studio to hold and record Indigenous cooking demonstrations and other classes on Indigenous culture and foodways.
North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NĀTIFS), the Indigenous Food Lab (IFL) and IFL Market are dedicated to addressing economic and health crises affecting Native communities by re-establishing Native foodways. The organization imagines a new North American food system that generates wealth and improves health in Native communities through food-related enterprises. For more, visit NATIFS.org.
