The US at 250: A Native Perspective on "Our Knives Will Save Us"
Summary
In this episode of "Your Call," host Rose Aguilar interviews Nephi Craig, a White Mountain Apache chef and author of the memoir "Our Knives Will Save Us." Craig shares his journey from substance abuse to sobriety, explaining how he used culinary arts and indigenous food traditions to heal from intergenerational trauma. He discusses the history of the Fort Apache Reservation, the impact of colonization on Native food systems, and his work at Cafe Gouau, a restaurant that serves as a vocational training program for those in recovery. The conversation highlights the power of food as a tool for…
Topics discussed
Introduction: Nephi Craig and his memoir 'Our Knives Will Save Us'
The writing process and the intersection of sobriety and cooking
Reader reactions: Native and non-Native perspectives on indigenous foods
Reclaiming food history and correcting non-Native narratives
The non-linear nature of recovery and inherited trauma
Relapse statistics and the reality of multiple treatment cycles
Reflections on US 250 and the absence of Native voices
White River history: Colonization and historical trauma
The Apache Scouts and the compromise of fighting alongside settlers
Severed foodways and the installation of dependency on rations
Personal anger at history and the establishment of the reservation
Multidisciplinary approaches to wellness and sobriety
Influences from Rainbow Treatment Center and Woody's legacy
The impact of the book on families in recovery
Guest bio and contact information
Childhood trauma: Sexual abuse at age 10 and its long-term effects
Breaking the silence: Speaking about abuse and societal stigma
The importance of emotional intelligence for parents and communities
Family reactions to the book and the shame of victimhood
Early culinary beginnings: Baking and selling on Whiskey Flats
Mormon upbringing, the name Nephi, and cultural assimilation
Grandfather's legacy: Carlisle Indian School and the garden
Complex relationships with the military and Navajo Code Talkers
Supporting recovery: Family processes and avoiding enablement
Moving from survival to survivance: Food and emotional vocabulary
Listen ad-free on Castria