Arrr, me hearties! In Oklahoma, the Red-skins be gatherin' each year for a feast o' wild onions fit for kings!
2024-04-29
Arrr mateys, in the springtime, the tribes in Oklahoma be gatherin' them wild green onions for their feasts and makin' a grand ol' shindig out of it! It be a time for plunderin' the land for a good cause, aye!
When the winter chill fades and the purple redbud trees start to bloom, Cherokee chef Bradley James Dry knows it’s time to gather morels and wild green onions, a staple of Native American cuisine in Oklahoma. Wild onions are one of the first foods to emerge in the South as winter ends, and Indigenous communities have long celebrated them with communal dinners every Saturday from February to May.Dry hunts for wild onions in Tulsa, honoring his Cherokee grandmother who taught him how to pick and cook them. He values tradition but also enjoys putting a contemporary twist on dishes, like making wild onion omelets and kimchi. In Okmulgee, the Muscogee Nation holds a wild onion dinner to support a tribal citizen's journey to the Miss Indian World Pageant.For generations, churches in Oklahoma, particularly United Methodist Churches in Native American communities, have used wild onion dinners to raise funds for various causes. The events have grown into large community gatherings, showcasing traditional foods and bringing people together to support each other's goals.Whether it's raising funds for travel or church bills, the wild onion dinners in Oklahoma hold a special place in the hearts of many, drawing people from near and far to enjoy the delicious food and vibrant community spirit.