SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

The National Center Names 2022 Native American 40 Under 40 Recipients

Posted on by Molly Roe
NCAIED 40 under 40 logo
20
Apr

from the National Center of American Indian Enterprise Development   The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (The National Center) announced the 2022 class of Native American 40 Under 40 award recipients. The Native American 40 Under 40 awards represent the best and brightest emerging Indian Country leaders. Every year, 40 American Indian, Alaska Native, […]

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Food, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

Benefits of blue corn

Posted on by Molly Roe
Blue Indian corn
05
Apr

Blue corn is a variety of flint corn originally grown in Mexico. It was developed by the Hopi, the Pueblo Indians of the Rio Grande in New Mexico, and several southeastern U.S. tribes. Blue cornmeal is made from ground blue corn and is a staple in many indigenous dishes. It boasts several health benefits and […]

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SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

Ho-Chunk Way donates to Whirling Thunder, Youth Shelter

Posted on by Molly Roe
Whirling Thunder director with youth and large check
30
Mar

Provided by Ho-Chunk, Inc.  Two Winnebago community programs recently received nearly $92,000 total in donations from Ho-Chunk, Inc. employees across the company and country.  The contributions to Whirling Thunder Wellness Center and the Winnebago Youth Shelter are through the Ho-Chunk Way Employee Donation Program, an employee initiative to make a direct and lasting difference in […]

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Gifts, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

What is sweetgrass and how is it used?

Posted on by Molly Roe
sweetgrass braid with white background
23
Mar

We receive quite a few questions about our company’s name and where it comes from, so let’s dive into what sweetgrass is and what it means for the Native community. We are named after the sweetgrass plant (sometimes called buffalo grass or vanilla grass), an herb native to Eurasia and North America. Sweetgrass has been used […]

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Food, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

Five ways to serve smoked salmon

Posted on by Molly Roe
Close up view of a slate tray with smoked salmon on rustic wood table. DSRL studio photo taken with Canon EOS 5D Mk II and Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
09
Mar

Smoked salmon has been made and enjoyed by Native people for thousands of years, and Natives hold salmon in high respect. Many tribes depended heavily on the dish to get them through cold winter months and long journeys. Smoked salmon is made by salting and smoking fresh caught salmon at a high temperature so that […]

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SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

SweetGrass receives Minority Business Enterprise Certification

Posted on by Molly Roe
NMSDC
28
Feb

We are excited to announce that SweetGrass Trading Company has received a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Certification from the Mountain Plains Minority Supplier Development Council (MPMSDC).    What is the MBE Certification?  The MBE Certification is awarded to businesses with at least 51 percent ownership by a minority group or individual, including United States citizens who […]

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SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog, Uncategorized

Applications open for Ho-Chunk, Inc. summer internship program

Posted on by Molly Roe
last year's interns with Lance Morgan, CEO
13
Jan

The Ho-Chunk, Inc. Summer Internship Program is designed to give students in undergraduate and graduate degree programs hands-on experience at an innovative Native American-owned company that prides itself on a strong social mission and community impact. Ho-Chunk, Inc. interns become an active part of the team from day one. Our personalized approach to learning and […]

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Food, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

Cooking with salsa: thinking beyond the tortilla chip

Posted on by Molly Roe
Santa Fe Seasons Fire Roasted Salsa
05
Jan

When most of us think of salsa, we probably associate it with a heaping bowl of tortilla chips. Salsa is such a versatile condiment that can be used in a variety of unique, delicious ways. Here are some ideas we came up with. Order our Apple Canyon Gourmet salsa today and try some of these out, then let us know your favorite way to […]

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Gifts, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

2021 Holiday Gift Guide

Posted on by Molly Roe
2021 holiday gift guide
01
Dec

It’s time to wrap up Holiday gift shopping! Whether you’re shopping for a friend, family member, colleague, teacher or client, we have you covered. This year’s gift guide features some of our classic favorites as well as some exciting new items you won’t want to miss out on. Place your order by Dec. 17 to ensure […]

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SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

SweetGrass employees to attend Tribal food and ag conference next month

Posted on by Molly Roe
24
Nov

The SweetGrass team is excited to attend the 2021 Intertribal Agricultural Council (IAC) Annual Conference. Last year’s conference was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s conference will be held at the Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas from Dec. 7-9.   SweetGrass employees will meet with attendees, artisans and other exhibitors to share the SweetGrass story and products, as well as discuss current trends and issues in Native food and ag.  […]

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Food, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

Honor Indigenous culture this Thanksgiving with a Native dish

Posted on by Molly Roe
indian corn soup
17
Nov

This Thanksgiving, we encourage you to see the Holiday through a Native perspective. While many of us learned that the first Thanksgiving included a joyful, peaceful meal between Native people and pilgrims, that isn’t the case at all.   In reality, the assembly of the Wampanoag people and English settlers in 1621 was less about a friendly celebration and meal and […]

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Gifts, Health Beauty Wellness, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

The Nizhoni Soap Company

Posted on by Molly Roe
The Nizhoni Soap Company
27
Oct

The Nizhoni Soap Company was founded in July 2019 by now 12-year-old Kamia Begay. She and her parents, Rhianna Brown and the late Tom Begay, decided to start the business to share their all-natural Navajo Native American scents with the world.   Kamia is in charge of her entire brand, with the help of her mother and a handful of employees.  She makes all […]

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Gifts, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

SweetGrass supports university-led panel of residential school survivors

Posted on by Molly Roe
SOU logo
20
Oct

In partnership with Southern Oregon University (SOU), SweetGrass recently donated small gifts to boarding school survivors and descendants who were part of a panel for SOU’s Native American Programs: Boarding School Healing Community.   SOU’s Native American Student Union and Native American Studies program have been working together since this summer to honor and bring awareness to the victims of […]

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SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

SweetGrass becomes member of national Native American tourism group

Posted on by Molly Roe
AIANTAlogo
29
Sep

SweetGrass recently became an official member of the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA). According to the organization’s website, “For nearly two decades, AIANTA has served as the national voice for American Indian nations engaged in cultural tourism. In addition to serving as the voice for Indian Country tourism, AIANTA provides technical assistance and training to […]

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Gifts, Health Beauty Wellness, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

Magic Star Sage

Posted on by Molly Roe
white sage lavender
22
Sep

SweetGrass is proud to offer sage from Magic Star sage, a Cherokee-owned business from Sacramento, California. Owner Narey Keomorakoth founded the business in 1998.  Keomorakoth started the business because she wanted to share the plant medicine and its blessings. She and her family began harvesting sage on their five acres of land in Northern California. From cutting the fresh plants to handcrafting and tying the […]

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Food, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

Types of corn and how to use them

Posted on by Molly Roe
various corn
23
Sep

This post is inspired by the book “The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen” by Sean Sherman  The early cultivation of corn made a huge impact on Native people. Not only did corn feed many people, but it didn’t require hunting, fishing, trapping or gathering. Growing corn could be done from home. This freed up time to […]

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Food, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

Easy snacks with roasted local seeds

Posted on by Molly Roe
Squash seeds pouring from a jar
24
Aug

This post is inspired by the book “The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen” by Sean Sherman  Seeds of local vegetables such as squash, pumpkin, sunflower and maple make a delicious, healthy snack when roasted. They can also be used in sweets such as cookies and granola, or as a garnish for salads and soups. Once roasted, […]

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Beverage, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

Yaupon Brothers American Tea Company

Posted on by Molly Roe
Bryon and Kyle White
17
Aug

Yaupon Brothers American Tea Company was founded in 2012 in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, by brothers Bryon and Kyle White.  Bryon, who has a background working in law enforcement, said he has always been a plant enthusiast and is part of the Florida Native Plant Society. When he started diving into the story of Yaupon, […]

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Health Beauty Wellness, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

Bee pollen: What is it and how do I use it?

Posted on by Molly Roe
Ioway Bee Farms bee pollen
12
Aug

Most of us know about the health benefits of raw, organic honey products. But what about bee pollen? What is it and how can it be used? Bee pollen is a mixture of flower pollen, nectar, enzymes, wax, honey and bee secretions. Honey bees collect pollen from wild plants and flowers and bring it back […]

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Food, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

Wild greens to forage for indigenous recipes

Posted on by Molly Roe
dandelion greens on a basket
05
Aug

This post is inspired by the book “The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen” by Sean Sherman  Many people don’t know that wild greens such as dandelion greens, purslane and plantain can be used in various recipes. These plants are typically picked from lawns and considered nuisances, but many wild greens are packed with healthful vitamins and […]

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Beverage, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

Takelma Roasting Company

Posted on by Molly Roe
Takelma mug, coffee bag and grinder with a natural background
03
Aug

Takelma Roasting Company was founded in 2017 and is owned and operated by the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe, which is located in Southwestern Oregon. Takelma is the traditional language of the Tribe, and is only spoken in that region.  The Tribe launched the company after realizing how much they were spending to supply […]

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Food, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

Ramona Farms

Posted on by Molly Roe
Ramona and Terry Button photo
27
Jul

Ramona and Terry Button began farming in 1974 on a ten-acre allotment near Sacaton, Arizona, on the Gila River Indian Reservation. Their first crops included barley and alfalfa; the Ramona Farms line of products has since grown to include wheat and corn products, black eyed peas, garbanzo beans and Tepary beans. Ramona’s father, Francisco ‘Chiigo’ […]

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Food, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

Interview with an Indigenous Chef: Crystal Wahpepah

Posted on by Molly Roe
Crystal Wahpepah headshot
22
Jul

  Name: Crystal Wahpepah Location: Oakland, California Business name: Owner, Wahpepah’s Kitchen Tribe: Kickapoo  What led to your passion for Indigenous foods? I always loved Native foods and I got to cook at a young age with family. It came so natural for me to be in the kitchen, like it was my gateway to […]

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Beverage, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

CatSpring Yaupon

Posted on by Molly Roe
Abianne Falla and JennaDee Detro
20
Jul
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Food, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

Native herbs and seasonings to keep on hand

Posted on by Molly Roe
photo of seasonings on spoons
15
Jul

This post is inspired by the book “The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen” by Sean Sherman  Keep these herbs and seasonings in your pantry to add flavor and depth to your indigenous recipes.Some of these grow in the wild and can be foraged. For those that aren’t available, visit your local organic market or health food […]

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Food, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

How to cook with Tepary beans

Posted on by Molly Roe
variety of Tepary beans
13
Jul

SweetGrass Trading Company is proud to offer a variety of black, brown and white Tepary beans from Ramona Farms in Sacaton, AZ. Tepary beans have been part of the Native way of life for years. They have been cultivated for at least a thousand years by the Natives of the Sonoran desert, the Akimel O’odham […]

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Food, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

Indigenous cookbooks to add to your reading list

Posted on by Molly Roe
person looking at cookbook
08
Jul

Looking for inspiration on how to cook indigenous recipes? We’ve compiled a list to help you begin. Check out the cookbooks below (in no particular order) for indigenous recipes, cooking tips and tricks, and even traditional stories! Keep in mind there are many other authorized indigenous cookbooks available. These are eight to help you get […]

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Food, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

SeaBear Smokehouse

Posted on by Molly Roe
pacific-northwest-smoked-salmon-collection-2018-a_1
06
Jul

SeaBear Smokehouse was founded in 1957 by fisherman Tom Savidge and his wife, Marie, in Anacortes, Washington. The pair began selling smoked salmon to local taverns and cafes and their product became quite popular.  The company, now called SeaBear Smokehouse, was originally named Specialty Seafoods. The name was changed in the early 90s to ground […]

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Food, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

Interview with an Indigenous Chef: Sean Sherman

Posted on by Molly Roe
Sean Sherman headshot
01
Jul

Name: Sean Sherman Location:  Minnesota Business name: The Sioux Chef Tribe: Oglala Lakota What led to your passion for indigenous foods? Basically, I had just been in restaurants my whole life. I started working in restaurants when I was just barely 13. So, I worked at restaurants all through high school and college. After college, […]

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SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

Frequently Asked Questions about SweetGrass Trading Company

Posted on by Molly Roe
SGlogo
29
Jun

What is SweetGrass Trading Company? We are an online store that offers Native American food, gifts and health and beauty products. We are a subsidiary of Ho-Chunk Trading Group, a division of Ho-Chunk, Inc., the economic development corporation of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. We are solely owned by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Where […]

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Food, Gifts, Health Beauty Wellness, SweetGrassTradingCo.com Blog

Sakari Botanicals

Posted on by Molly Roe
Spring Alaska Olson looking at plants
24
Jun

Sakari Botanicals was founded in 2014 by Spring Alaska Olson, under the Department of Agriculture’s USDA Inter-Tribal Agricultural Council. The word “Sakari” means “sweet” in the traditional Inupiaq language  Olson uses traditional practices she learned from her Inuit family to grow local plants, flowers and herbs and create oils, salves, teas, and more.  Olson grew […]

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