NORTHPORT — Northport Public School is celebrating culture and community through food by featuring Indigenous recipes on its lunch menu once a month.
Food Service Director Emily Miller said the effort is about both nourishment and representation.
“Today we are featuring a soup that has local pumpkin, turkey, wild rice and local produce,” Miller said. “It has a recipe that we found through the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe. I think it’s important for representation for our tribal student body and being a tribal member myself and the mother of a student here, I think that it’s a fun, creative way to show that representation through food.”
The initiative connects local sourcing with cultural education, giving students a chance to experience Indigenous cooking traditions firsthand. Many students said they noticed the freshness of the ingredients and appreciated the meaning behind the meals.
“I think first, it’s very educational to the kids here because I know a couple of kids are a part of my tribe, and I know they’re not as involved with certain events as they’d like to be,” said student Lydia Diaz.
More than 30% of Northport’s student population identifies as Indigenous. For students like Diaz, the featured dishes offer a deeper sense of connection.
“This means a lot because I grew up not around here or near my Tribe,” Diaz said. “Now that I’m back, I feel kind of like I’m missing a piece of myself. But also, this is bringing that piece to me. It’s just connecting in ways I thought I couldn’t connect for a long time. So it feels really nice to be represented even at school, even if it’s just a little lunch.”
Diaz said she hopes the effort continues to build awareness and pride.
“I think food is extremely important for all people, and especially to tribal peoples,” she said. “To source local seasonal foods should be important for all cultures. There’s almost this myth or idea that we’re extinct, and I just want people to know that we’re still here, we’re still alive, and we’re really proud of who and what we do.”