Speaker: Crystal Wahpepah | Air Date: June 20, 2022 | Run Time: 48mins | The Native Seed Pod: Season 3
Indigenous Food Warriors with Chef Crystal Wahpepah
Guest Host Sara Moncada sits down with Chef Crystal Wahpepah in Wahpepah’s Kitchen, her newly opened Native-owned restaurant in Oakland, California. In a wide-ranging and intimate conversation, they discuss Crystal’s vision of what it means to be an Indigenous Food Warrior: nourishing community through cooking and serving Native foods and educating the next generation on the power and beauty of traditional Indigenous food systems. From her work as a traveling caterer to opening her first restaurant in the heart of the Bay Area Native community, Crystal shares her journey of exploring the deep connection with our foods and food traditions through knowing our ingredients’ origins, through revitalizing traditional trade networks, and by sourcing seeds and foods grown from trusted community rooted in land. Join us as Crystal and Sara talk story about the path of Wahpepah’s Kitchen, the healthy responsibility of traditional lands and foods tending, and what it means to be able to offer these kinds of connections to the next generation.
This conversation was recorded on March 15, 2022 at Wahpepah’s Kitchen in Oakland, California.
Mural in Wahpepah’s Kitchen restaurant - art by NSRGNTS
“I see a big ol’ plate of healing, flavor, something that’s from this land, and that connection. Even though I’m Kickapoo, we all have that connection.”
Crystal Wahpepah (Kickapoo)
ABOUT CRYSTAL WAHPEPAH
Crystal Wahpepah is an enrolled member of the Kickapoo nation of Oklahoma. She was born and raised in Oakland, California, on Ohlone land, surrounded by a multi-tribal, tight-knit, urban Native community. Crystal’s objectives for Wahpepah’s Kitchen are threefold: (1) to acknowledge that we live on stolen land; and (2) how that acknowledgement connects to the reclamation of Native food ways (food sovereignty); as well as (3) to educate communities and organizations on the health benefits of Native Foodways using the knowledge passed onto her.
Crystal does not merely cater events and go—she speaks on where her food comes from and honors its roots, its Indigenous cultivators and stewards and its place within the seasons. This is why you will always see diversity in her food, because Wahpepah’s Kitchen honors the seasons with changing menus and product availability. Crystal’s creations through food and community shine with joy, lightness of heart, and are led by a solid internal compass.
Crystal has catered and done educational talks in many forums that span local community settings, the tech world, non-profit organizations and educational institutions. Crystal has worked with the American Indian film festival, Facebook, Twitter, Google, Salesforce, WeWork, UC Berkeley, Cal Poly, UCSF and the National Indian Health Board. This is a small sample that illustrates the diversity of Crystal’s reach. She has traveled all over the country attending food summits and building networks with other Native American and Indigenous farmers, land stewards and chefs.
Crystal was recently nominated for the prestigious James Beard Award for Emerging Chefs.
The open pantry in the eating area of Wahpepah’s Kitchen in Fruitvale, Oakland, California.
Additional Resources
Wahpepah’s Kitchen website
Chef Crystal Wahpepah on the power of Indigenous cuisine article in The Guardian
Crystal Wahpepah is clearing a path for Indigenous chefs article in the Oaklandside
Five dishes to try at Wahpepah’s Kitchen, Oakland’s revolutionary new Native American restaurant article in the SF Chronicle
Chef Crystal Wahpepah caters an event at The Cultural Conservancy’s land project, Heron Shadow, with traditional salmon, buffalo and more.
CREDITS
Host/Writer/Director: Sara Moncada
Producers: Mateo Hinojosa, Sara Moncada, Melissa Nelson
Audio Editor and Engineer: Colin Farish
Audio Recordist: Mateo Hinojosa
Photography: Mateo Hinojosa, Alexandru Salceanu
Transcript correction and additional editing: Alexandru Salceanu
ORIGINAL Songs
Opening Theme Music - Colin Farish featuring Airto Moreira
Soundscapes and Music Composition - Colin Farish
Piano, Guitar & Flute - Colin Farish, Sudhananda Paul Greaver
Flute - Enrique Salmón
Voice: L Frank Manriquez
Frame Drums - Glen Velez
Bass - Terry Miller
Drums - Bob Blankenship
Songs Used by Permission
Origins sung by Michael Bercier, courtesy of Sewam Dance
Crow Hop sung by Michael Bercier, courtesy of Sewam Dance
