#19 Nephi Craig

Chef Nephi Craig is a White Mountain Apache who is interested in the development and preservation of Native American foodways. He is the founder of the Native American Culinary Association, and was featured in a recent documentary called Gather, which centers around the indigenous food sovereignty movement. Over the past eighteen years, Chef Craig has cooked throughout the United States, as well as in London, Germany, Brazil, and Japan. He is the Executive Chef of Café Gozhóó on the White Mountain Apache Reservation in Whiteriver, Arizona, and works in addiction recovery and wellness.

We spoke about his approach to food sovereignty and the obstacles that native communities face in re-gaining their food culture. He also shared a bit about his youth and professional journey, as well as his perspective on the lasting effects of colonialism on indigenous peoples.

Links:

Gather Film

Letters to a Young Farmer

Cafe Gozhoo

Nephi Craig Instagram

Forbes Article