Grand Traverse Band Launches Effort to Preserve Native American Traditional Recipes

By Joe Morey

Rez Life Weekly Editor

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians is taking steps to preserve and celebrate traditional Native foodways through the creation of a Native American traditional recipe book, according to a report from the Leelanau Enterprise.

The project is being led by the tribe’s Community Health Representatives Sub-Department and is designed to gather and document traditional recipes shared by tribal members and community participants. According to the Leelanau Enterprise, the initiative focuses not only on preserving cultural knowledge but also on promoting health and wellness through traditional Indigenous foods.

The recipe book effort began with a call for submissions issued last fall, inviting members of the Grand Traverse Band community to contribute recipes that have been passed down through families or that reflect traditional Native ingredients and preparation methods. According to the Leelanau Enterprise, the first round of recipe submissions recently concluded, marking an important milestone in the project.

Amanda McSauby Jones, a Grand Traverse Band community health representative for Leelanau County, said the cookbook is rooted in cultural continuity and connection. According to the Leelanau Enterprise, McSauby Jones explained that the project was inspired by a desire to preserve traditions that have been shared across generations and to ensure that culturally significant foods remain part of everyday life for future generations.

The cookbook is expected to include a range of traditional dishes that highlight Indigenous ingredients and cooking practices. The Leelanau Enterprise reported that an image accompanying the story showed Three Sisters Soup being served at the Grand Traverse Band Natural Resources Fair and Feast in 2022, a dish centered on corn, beans, and squash that reflects long-standing Native agricultural traditions and is expected to be featured in the recipe collection.

Additional information released by the Grand Traverse Band indicates that the submission deadline for recipes was January 5, 2026. Participants who submitted recipes were entered into a drawing for a handcrafted beaded keychain created by a Grand Traverse Band artist. According to tribal announcements, the project was coordinated through the Community Health Representatives program, with Tamra Newton and Amanda McSauby Jones serving as contacts for the initiative.

The Leelanau Enterprise noted that the recipe book project aligns with broader efforts among Indigenous communities to protect and revitalize traditional knowledge, including food systems that were disrupted by colonization and changes in diet over time. By documenting traditional recipes, the Grand Traverse Band aims to strengthen cultural identity while also encouraging healthier eating rooted in Indigenous practices.

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians is a federally recognized tribe based in northwest Michigan, with many members living on or near the Leelanau Peninsula. Tribal leaders have emphasized the importance of initiatives that preserve culture while supporting community health, and the traditional recipe book is one of several efforts designed to pass down knowledge that might otherwise be lost.

According to the Leelanau Enterprise, the recipe book is expected to serve as both a cultural resource and a practical guide for families, ensuring that traditional foods and the stories behind them continue to be shared for generations to come.