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As New Mexico and Colorado argue about who has the best green chile, let’s not forget the plant’s Indigenous origins. Scientists believe the plant’s cultivation goes back as far as long as 9,000 years ago in Mexico. Different varieties of chiles swept the Americas and became part of many Indigenous communities. Christopher Columbus took a chile plant to Europe. He and other European traders had a hand in spreading it to Africa and Asia. Now, Native seed savers are working to preserve early versions of the plant. We’ll talk about this fiery pepper’s place in Native America, past and present.
Guests:
David Toledo (Jemez Pueblo)- Governor of Jemez Pueblo
Rick Coriz (Santo Domingo Pueblo) – owner Coriz Farm and Ranch
Miranda Cisnero – program coordinator Chile Pepper Institute
Gabriel Vega (Mestizo) – farm manager for the San Xavier Co-op Farm
Phyllis Valenzuela (Tohono O’odham) – tour and events coordinator for the San Xavier Co-Op
Break Music: Plant The Seeds (song) Digging Roots (artist) We Are (album)
