I-Collective | Tyler Essary

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I-Collective is bringing Indigenous people and food together

Photo Direction for I-Collective story.

Kirby-Shoote told TODAY, "I would say growing up in an urban environment especially right outside and in Portland, there's no representation that was immediate. But my mom worked really hard to connect my brother and I to our culture, and she would take us up — I think the highest population of Tlingit people outside of Alaska is in Seattle — so we'd road trip up to Seattle for cultural events."

Michelle Gerard for TODAY

Michelle Gerard for TODAY

Michelle Gerard for TODAY

Over the years, Camren Stott has worked to incorporate and highlight Indigenous ingredients in his cooking and source from Indigenous businesses and owners. "I buy Indigenous products, like, I buy all my blue corn masa from Mexico, or I get it from Bow and Arrow, which is an Indigenous-owned place. We all support each other. And this is how we're building our network. And that's what I-Collective is all about."

Colin Clark for TODAY

Colin Clark for TODAY

Hillel Echo-Hawk has worked as a cook in professional kitchens and says she's faced discrimination and racism in the workplace, often mistaken for being Spanish or Mexican.

Jenn Ackerman + Tim Gruber for TODAY

Jenn Ackerman + Tim Gruber for TODAY

Yazzie hands community members boxed lunches at Gatherings Cafe in the Minneapolis American Indian Center on Dec. 10, 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gatherings Cafe has focused on serving meals to elders in the community.

Yazzie with his Gatherings Cafe kitchen staff, in front of a mural depicting a skyway going from Los Angeles to Minneapolis to New York City and a corn wall in lieu of Lady Liberty. The mural also features the Mississippi River with wild rice, Dakota squash and corn. "It's kind of representation of what the mission of the cafe is — intertribal cuisine, just different ingredients with different tribal perspectives."

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