The Role Of Indigenous Food

 


In simple terms, indigenous catering is simply the offer of indigenous foods for regular people to eat. Among the people in the community, at one time or the other in their lives, some have been a part of an indigenous group of people from another place or another time.

 

Today, they might have mingled with the majority of the people in their present place of residences. The memory of home becomes fainter and fainter as time goes on with their present place of abode.

 

Refreshing the connection

 

The offer of partaking of the traditional indigenous foods, cooked in their original condiments, made in their style of cooking and incorporating the original flavors of home can be an invigorating experience.

 

Transplanted from their old traditions, these indigenous foods bring back their heritage, culture and traditions despite being away from their home communities. It provides a taste of home for indigenous people, offering familiar flavors and dishes that they may have grown up with.

 

Traditions and heritage

 

Every place on earth has each of their own traditions and revered heritage expressed through their food, language and even in their manner of dressing. With the diaspora of many people and races in every place in the planet, the taste of indigenous food to bring all these up is always a welcome treat.

 

Catering these indigenous foods can bring with it some true surprises. From delicious meats cooked in the earth to the delicate flavors of native herbs and spices, every dish tells a story.

 

Food connection

 

As humans, we all have a deep connection to food, especially those that we grow up with and have come to deeply love and crave for in their absence. The memories of home evoked in their flavors can make us feel safe and happy.

 

In truth, there are a few things that can be more comforting than the familiar scent and taste of our foods. This is the same for all places, although in many other places indigenous foods are not recognized, acknowledged or being available.

 

Transformations

 

The indigenous food shared on the table create a welcoming atmosphere for indigenous people and set the table for transformation.

 

Meanwhile, the serving of traditional foods sets the table for reflection, conversations, relationships, and increased understanding around these culturally sourced foods.

 

Land

 

Indigenous people who rely on traditional foods for their daily meals gain a deeper connection to the land. Eating in seasonal cycles with the food we know so much connects us to what is taking place in the forests and seas around us.

 

 When we are away from these foods it can sometimes bring that feeling of disconnection. By providing indigenous foods, we bring in a reconnection  for indigenous people and it is an act of reciprocity and reconciliation.

 

At the same time, we can bring in that particular environment where everyone can reconnect to the land through food.

 

Medicine

 

Among indigenous people, there is a teaching that food is medicine. It combines the natural preventative medicine and nourishment paired with the activity of harvesting. Some even declares outright that food is medicine.

 

In this context, food is believed to nourish the body not only physically but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as well.

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