Native Nation’s First Sovereignty Kitchen
NWIC Tulalip, Washington
Northwest Indian College opens the first tribal presentation sovereignty kitchen at their Tulalip site. Tulalip is one of the schools six sites outside of the original Bellingham location. The schools President, staff, students, and members of local community gathered for a soft opening on Friday November 3rd for Indian Tacos. Not just any Indian Tacos, the ingredients were all harvested, collected, and prepared right on site of the school. This brings a whole new meaning to the term “tribal sovereignty.”
NWIC Native Environmental Science & Food Sovereignty Instructor Lindsey Crofoot said the kitchen allows students a place they can take instruction using traditional foods and practices. Costing a total of $65,000 students will now have “Food Style Network,” presentations for their course final. According to the project manager and Public Speaking Instructor, Colette Keith (CRST) the project design began in 2019, but was slowed down due to COVID-19, but from help from the Tulalip Tribes Charitable Trust, and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians the Sovereignty Kitchen will officially open in May of 2024.
This project is a bigger deal than we realize. Tribes from all over the Nation including Cheyenne River, need to create awareness of how important “tribal sovereignty,” is for all of us and our future. To learn more about NWIC and the Sovereignty Kitchen contact Colette at [email protected]
