With travel comes the experience of regional and cultural cuisine, and the Black Hills and Badlands is home to delectable Indigenous foods, originating from the Lakota, a Midwest nomadic tribe, that emphasizes generosity, wisdom, and respect for all life.
Indigenous cuisine is cooking from native species or plants from a specific area. Common Indigenous Lakota foods include wild game like bison, vegetables, and berries. Many of the staple foods are still used in Indigenous dishes around the Black Hills and Badlands. But aside from a tantalizing taste, Indigenous foods in the Black Hills - Paha Sapa - and Badlands - Mako Sicca- have a rich history symbolizing resilience, ancestral roots, and a connection to the land.
While hitting the trails, walking through monuments, and perusing the local shops, we want to share with you some favorite Indigenous dishes that you can try while visiting the Black Hills and Badlands.
Fry Bread & Indian Tacos
Fry bread, a common Native American food, is mostly known for Indian Tacos, a popular Indigenous dish that loads traditional taco toppings onto a golden deep-fried bread in lieu of a crunchy corn taco shell or flour tortilla. Fry bread also is paired with berries, honey, or powdered sugar or served alongside bison stews and hearty soups.
In the Black Hills and Badlands, Indian Tacos will include traditional taco ingredients, including sizzling and seasoned ground beef, beans, fresh tomatoes and onions, grated cheese and a dollop of sour cream and salsa.
Large in size and flavor, an Indian Taco could be shared, but after one bite, we bet you won’t want to!
Tatanka
The Lakota hunted wild game including bison, elk, and deer. However, the bison – or tatanka - was perhaps one of the most sacred animals to the Lakota, as it offered not only a main source of sustenance, but provided clothing, shelter, medicine, and tools.
Today, bison is served in a variety of dishes including juicy burger patties, hearty stews, and a bone-in Tatanka Tomahawk steak.
Tatanka stew incudes chunks of hearty, seasoned buffalo, potatoes, onions, carrots and served with a side of fry bread.
Wasna
Wasna, or a dried meat, was a common way to preserve wild game for the harsh Midwestern winters. It was also a light, yet filling, meal to pack. Wasna is commonly made with bison meat, but other wild game like elk or deer can be used. The meat is commonly mixed with chokecherries before dehydrating.
Today, wasna would make a great trail treat, enjoyed while enjoying the stunning views of the Back Hills and Badlands.
The Three Sisters
The three sisters – corn, beans, and squash – were common vegetables used in traditional Indigenous meals. The crops were grown together, known as companion planting. Each plant relied on the other for growth. Corn stalks provided support for bean vines and the bean vine in turn provided stability for the corn stalks during high prairie winds. The squash spread over the ground, preventing the growth of pesky weeds and retaining moisture from the rains.
A common dish using the three sisters is Three Sisters Soup, a dish that reflects the Indigenous culture and offers a healthy and nourishing meal. The base of the soup is often made of chicken or vegetable broth, but livened up with tomatoes, garlic, and onion, among other seasonings. Additions of potatoes or a hearty protein can also be added.
Wojapi
For those with a sweet tooth, wojapi is a must. Wojapi, a Native American dipping sauce typically made with wild berries, is often served with ice cream or fry bread. Indigenous populations historically used wild chokecherries, but today, a variety of wild berries from blueberries to cherries are used to create this sweet treat.
From the Black Hills & Badlands to Your Kitchen
Visitors can find Indigenous cuisine at various eateries and shops around the Black Hills and Badlands, including Crazy Horse Memorial. The gift shop also offers Wojapi and Fry Bread ingredients in the gift shop to take home. However, you also make these recipes at home to share and connect with family and friends around the dinner table.
