About the Indigenous Foodways Festival

Presented by the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture and Edible New Mexico, the Indigenous Foodways Festival is a one-day celebration of the living food cultures, ancestral knowledge, and contemporary creativity of Indigenous peoples across the Southwest.

Hosted in Santa Fe on Museum Hill, the festival brings together tribal communities, chefs, farmers, and cultural leaders for a day of learning, tasting, and connection. Through cooking demonstrations, panel discussions, and a vibrant marketplace, attendees explore how food connects land, culture, and community—and how those relationships continue to shape the future of sustainable food systems.

Our Core Values

Cultural Continuity
We honor the knowledge, practices, and stories passed down through generations. The festival celebrates food as a living expression of identity, memory, and place.

Community Connection
Food brings people together. By gathering chefs, farmers, knowledge keepers, and the public, we strengthen ties across cultures and create space for dialogue, understanding, and respect.

Education and Exchange
We believe in the power of learning through experience. The festival invites attendees to engage directly through demonstrations, discussions, and tastings that deepen appreciation for Indigenous foodways.

Innovation Rooted in Tradition
The event celebrates creativity grounded in ancestral wisdom—showcasing how Indigenous chefs, growers, and makers blend traditional practices with modern techniques to shape a sustainable future.

Land and Sustainability
Every seed, ingredient, and story begins with the land. The festival promotes ecological balance and food sovereignty, emphasizing stewardship and respect for the natural world.