Native cooking - Indian Country

[Christopher B. Martin]

Fall and this great harvest time make me proud to be Native American. We know what our traditions are and we understand our identity as caretakers of Mother Earth, and how the things we value the most are things money can't buy. One is the mutual common thread between our nations: we are courteous and respect one another. Integrity is alive and strong in Indian country and we can stand tall with dignity and face down any way of life that threatens this solid moral strength.

One strength is our diversity. We honor the differences among ourselves while keeping our individual tribal traditions sacred. In this fast-paced time, we know that the more we share, the more that will come back to us. Nowhere is that more obvious than in the foods we eat.

With so many cultural areas to study and learn from, we can prepare a vast cornucopia of meals by sharing common ingredients. Hundreds of breads, meats, vegetables and other foods are all cooked just a little bit differently, and each different method provides some new and old ''wow'' factor.

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