Updated: Friday, June 12 at 6pm – EDT
As the elite of the culinary world descends upon Chicago for the prestigious James Beard Foundation Awards week, a groundbreaking cultural shift is taking place just a few miles away. On Saturday, June 13, IndigeHub will debut IndigeHouse: House of Smoke & Ash, an immersive, multi-tiered take-over designed to disrupt the culinary narrative and center the continent’s original agricultural architects.
For four decades, “American” food has been defined on some of the industry’s most visible stages without fully recognizing the ancestral foodways that built it. Hosted at Venue West (221 N Paulina St), this inaugural activation serves as a living expression of culture, economy, and community engagement.
Redefining Food Infrastructure From Soil to Plate
The all-day event addresses the entire pipeline of the Indigenous food economy, balancing public commerce with deeply vital systemic dialogue.
Speakers
12:30-1:00 PM – Doors open (please aim to arrive around 12:45 pm)
1:10 – Simon Moya-Smith opens and welcomes the room
1:15 – Sean Sherman: Allyship and Representation in Media
1:22 – Q&A with Sean
1:37 – Break
1:47 – Jaiden Willeto: Seed Sovereignty and Rematriation
1:54 – Geoffrey Kie: Water Rights and Food Production
2:01 – Q&A with Jaiden and Geoffrey
2:16 – Break
2:26 – Jason Baldes: Bison Restoration
2:33 – Joseph Yracheta: Indigenous Data Sovereignty
2:40 – Q&A with Jason and Joseph
2:55 – Break
3:05 – Julie Francella: Closing
3:12 – Simon/Chef Bleu Adams: Closing Remarks
3:22 – End (includes a 7-minute buffer in case we run over)
The Conversation
1pm -3pm
Kendall College
18 S Michigan Ave 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60603 (https://www.google.com/maps/search/18+S+Michigan+Ave+3rd+Floor,+Chicago,+IL+60603?entry=gmail&source=g)
The Table + The Gathering
550 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60610 (https://www.google.com/maps/search/550+W+Division+St,+Chicago,+IL+60610?entry=gmail&source=g)
Chef’s connection to and build local community to source ingredients from alignment makes the City Farm venue a compelling part of the story.
Following dinner, the evening transitions into The Gathering (8:00 PM – 10:00 PM), an interactive, late-night reception filled with music, drinks, and community. It provides a dedicated networking arena where chefs, activists, and producers can mingle with institutional culinary leaders to build a shared future.
Why This Movement Matters Now
In a city that has long served as a historic gathering place for Native nations, House of Smoke & Ash marks a permanent shift from inclusion to authorship. Organizers stress that true allyship goes beyond simple statements; it requires physically showing up to support the economic systems of knowledge-keepers.
While the general marketplace is open to all, specific portions—including the curated discussion panels and the flagship dinner—require advance coordination. Communities, allies, and food enthusiasts looking to support the project can secure remaining ticket tiers or contribute directly through the official IndigeHouse Givebutter Hub.
