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chickee talk

Fry Bread
is a
Phenomenon

by Tina Marie Osceola

wish there was technology that allowed me much merchandise centered around those little pillows of deliciousness.
I When I decided to write an article about fry bread, I asked my friends
to share the pleasure of eating fry bread
on Facebook to send me pics of
with you. The pleasure of the crispy crust
and the pillowy inside of a good piece of fry themselves cooking fry bread, eating
bread is unmatched by anything I’ve ever had. fry bread, or of their favorite fry
Those of you who have been to the Everglades bread. I really enjoyed what I got
Seafood Festival know that, although seafood is in return. One long-time friend,
the draw to that little town that was once our county seat, the lines for Michael Nephew, sent me a photo of
Iona’s Fry Bread are longer than any other. However, the number of fry himself holding a piece of fry bread
bread vendors from the Seminole and Miccosukee Tribes are numerous while wearing his favorite fry bread
and, depending on who you ask, everyone has their favorite! Some are t-shirt. Another sent me a photo of
known for their fried pumpkin bread and others are known for the chef Paul Wahlberg, preparing fry
best chili on top of the Indian Taco. Others are known for the best pie bread hamburgers at the Mescalero
filling stuffed inside the steaming hot piece of bread as soon as it Apache’s Inn of the Mountain Gods, in southern New Mexico. Court
comes out of the fryer! Standing Bear, a local chef from the Lakota people, shared a photo of
I grew up in a family known for their yummy menu. In the early his fry bread that you can enjoy at the Flamingo Island flea market on
1970’s my grandma, aunt, and father began traveling to fairs, carnivals, Bonita Beach Road!
pow wows, and arts and crafts festivals across the country as “O.B.’s Fry Fry Bread is also a reason to come together and a way to share
Bread.” We had people waiting for us to set up so they could order their tradition. Grandmas, moms, and aunties share their techniques with
favorite stuffed fry bread. Most Indian Tacos are served on a plate with young people. In our Tribe, young people are taught how to make
toppings piled high and you need a fork and knife (and lots of napkins) fry bread over an open fire under cook chickees. My niece, Samantha
to enjoy or savor each bite… But my family started stuffing the fry Hisler, sent a photo with her two daughters covered in flour, learning
bread so that people could walk around and eat their food. Brilliant! how to make Indian burgers. Indian burgers are fry bread dough
As much as all of us in Florida would like to think we have the stuffed with seasoned ground beef and onions and then deep fried into
best fry bread, almost every tribe in the nation has their own favorite golden flavor bombs. The conversations and stories told while being
vendors/chefs. I remember traveling to a pow wow in South Dakota taught how to cook are an invaluable way to preserve culture and teach
and trying a “Big A—Indian Taco!” Yes, that was the name of the language. The Seminole Tribe has culture programs on each reservation
booth… “BIG A__ Indian Tacos” (you fill in the blanks). When we and in communities. We also have a tribal wide language program that
used to stay in Oklahoma during the summer folks would walk around has taken on the task of preservation and education.
the pow wow grounds with little Styrofoam coolers stuffed with “Meat Fry Bread has become the magnet that draws people together,
Pies.” They really hit the spot! regardless of tribe, regardless of culture.
Fry Bread is more than just something to eat. It really has become If you have never tried fry bread, wait in the lines!
an icon of American Indian, Native American, tribal culture. There It’s worth it!
are memes, t-shirts, gifs, Facebook groups, social media tags, and so

16 Life in Naples | May, June, July 2024