Traditional Foods of the Puget Sound

Background

• 2003 Muckleshoot, Tulalip, and Suquamish approach UW Burke Museum

• Mission: to find historical and archaeological data on pre-contact diet from Northwest region.

• Archaeological record suggest a much greater variety of food choices than today.

Research Plan

• Partnered research with NWIC and Burke.

• Funded by the USDA Research Innovation and Development Grants in Economics (RIDGE) program.

• Consists of four phases:Phase 1: Develop Modern

Traditional Foods DietPhase 2: Roundtable DiscussionsPhase 3: Tribal Cooks CampPhase 4: Print Booklet of

Findings & Recipes

Phase 1: Develop Modern Traditional Foods Diet

Puget Sound Traditional Food Principles– Honor the food web/chain– Traditional foods are whole foods– Eat a variety of foods- Eat with the seasons– Eat local foods– Wild and organic foods are better for health– Cook and eat with intention– Food is at the center of culture

Phase 2: Roundtable Discussions• Where? Two separate sessions

Lummi/Squaxin

• Who? Tribal cooks, administration, health care-professionals, community members and other people of interest.

• What? Presentations made by archaeologist and traditional food experts, followed breakout sessions for discussions.

• Focused on three questions.

Roundtable Outcomes1. Access:Family fishing, clam digging, deer/elk huntingTraditional harvesting tradeCultural eventsTribes w/ community garden

2. Barriers:Acculturation- lack of cultural transmissionLack access to healthy traditional harvesting sitesDecreased community engagement

3. Solutions:Integrate traditional food knowledge in school system (elders)Organize farm stands, CSA’s, community gardensCreating food policies and encouraging trade at cultural eventsTraditional Food ChallengesEducate and inspire tribal cooks

Phase 3: Tribal Cooks Camp• 20 tribal cooks from Puget Sound area attended 3 day camp in

Poulsbo. • Encouraged to creatively develop recipes for regular use within their

community.• Collaboratively developed 21 recipes

The Creation of Cooks

Phase 4: The Booklet

• Completed by Fall 2009• Will consist of three sections

1. Archeological findings2. Outcomes from group

discussion3. Recipe book from cooks camp