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Sticking to a vegan diet takes a pretty big commitment. No meat, milk, eggs or anything derived from animal products. But it doesn’t mean your meals have to be boring. There are a number of traditional Native foods that are vegan including, blue corn mush, acorn stew, and wojapi. Some people choose to be vegan for health reasons. Others focus on animal welfare. We’ll talk with Native vegans about their reasons and hear about some time-tested recipes.
Vincent Schilling (Akwesasne Mohawk) co-host of the podcast Native Trailblazers and associate editor at Indian Country Today
Delores Schilling – co-host of the podcast Native Trailblazers
Tina Archuletta (Jemez Pueblo) – owner of Itality : Plant Based Wellness
Vegan Recipes by Vincent Schilling and Delores Schilling
Break 1 Music: Niizh Straight (song) Niizhoo Sullivan (artist) Rez Kid Rhythm (album)
Break 2 Music: Stick Game Song #9 (song) Judy Trejo (artist) Stick Game Songs of the Paiute (album)
Hey! I’m Native (Dakota from Spirit Lake) and vegan for 2 years. Like the callers I don’t feel like I have many non-native vegan friends. The world views and I suppose the reasons for being plant based differ. My main reason was due to the environmental impacts of CAFO’s. My next reason was due to the animal welfare, and finally my own health. These three reasons together and my own meditation on the topic, when I looked within myself and tried to justify it, I just couldn’t. During ceremony time or feasts I take the food and give it to a friend or someone else who might want my seconds, but I always accept the food. There have been a handful of times I’ve eaten non-vegan foods in those situations.
My husband is slowly transitioning to a plant based lifestyle himself, but when I decided to become vegan I didn’t want to force that on him or my family.
I have so much more to add or say on this topic, I’d love to see a second segment on this topic sometime soon! This is great to have this conversation in our communities. Pidamaya ye.