Indigenous or not, It is a day to remember.

When I was a child, we celebrated Columbus day every October. My father was a member of the Knights of Columbus, so we knew that meant it was Tootsie roll season. There was nothing political about the day. In reality, the PC police of today would have a conniption fit over the K of C and their lack of understanding even though they were trying to help the handicapped. They have changed the wording today. But, back in the 70’s they had banners saying, “helping retarded children.” To fellow knights and most middle class Americans, Columbus day celebrated the “founding” of America as the bastion of modern Western civilization. After all, Columbus “discovered” the “New World.” Indigenous or not, It is a day to remember.

But, did he really “discover” it? That’s like David Bowie “discovering” Iggy Pop, Joan Baez “discovering” Bob Dylan, or Kanye West “discovering” John Legend. All of these people were already on the scene, the “bigger” stars just helped introduce them to a new audience. The same holds true to America. But, when Columbus “discovered” the Americas, it didn’t go so well for the people who already called it home. What followed Columbus was centuries of indigenous people enslaved, abused, slaughtered, and robbed of their lands. And, the ironic part for those who celebrate Columbus as the founder of America is that he never actually saw North America, only the Bahamas, central, and south America.

Indigenous or not, It is a day to remember. So, what are we celebrating?

Columbus day has become symbolic of the effort to educate Americans about the atrocities faced by non European people throughout the history of America. There is an irony inherent in that though. The Latinex community from central and south America owe their Latin heritage to the invasion of Spain that began with Columbus. The Inca, Aztec, and Mayan people have all but disappeared from the face of the earth. You can thank Columbus “discovering” the new world for that consequence. Today, the inhabitants of all the Americas speak some dialect of European languages. And, the old world people, their languages, and customs are simply quaint reminders of a distant past, visible only in museums, reservations, or ancient ruins.

While all of this is true. And, just thinking of what entire civilizations have gone through makes me feel ashamed to be a white man. But, there are definitely positive things that came out of the European invasion. The fact that you are reading this on the internet is a testament to progress. Modern technology, communications, travel, and the exchange of ideas, history, and collective experience are all thanks to Europeans in the US. And, the USA is widely seen as the leader of the “free world”. I doubt that would be the case if Europeans hadn’t invaded. You can complain all you want about the destruction of the world as you sip your Starbucks latte while cruising the internet on your Iphone. Get the picture?

Why can’t we all just get along?

While it is unforgivable what “Americans” did to the indigenous peoples of the land. Short of inventing a time machine to go back and right the wrongs, the past cannot be changed. We can try to make amends. But, nothing can bring back the 90% of Indigenous ancestors who were wiped out by European germs and diseases, let alone the guns and swords used against them. For those of you who don’t know, Columbus and future expeditions to the New world brought Measles, smallpox, Typhoid, and flu with them. European societies had immunity to these diseases. But, not the peoples of the Americas. Columbus and those who followed brought death without even lifting a sword. You think COVID is bad? What we are calling a pandemic is nothing compared to the wholesale decimation of entire civilizations.

So, for those of you offended by “critical race theory”, Take a minute to digest facts like this. These unpleasant concepts may detract from the heroism of building the greatest nation on Earth. Or, we can learn from our mistakes. Isn’t that what studying history is all about? Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I think it humanizes our “founders.” They are human beings, flaws and all. Don’t deify them. Accept their contributions and their mistakes equally. Isn’t that what Jesus taught? Indigenous or not, It is a day to remember.

Two things can be true at the same time.

Unfortunately, in today’s hyper sensitive environment of Us vs Them it’s treasonous to accept one person’s view and not the other. But, in this case, it is true. Columbus and his successors brought un-imagined prosperity to the Americas. They also brought unimaginable death and destruction. The atrocity of what happened to indigenous people is something we should all grieve for. This isn’t a question of I’m right, you’re wrong. This is what happened. Just because it doesn’t fit into your pseudo political ideology doesn’t mean it is a myth or hoax.

At the same time, the progress and expansion of the greatest nation on Earth is a reality as well. We can be proud of what we have today, even with the flaws. Don’t stop fighting for equality and humanity. But, recognize the fortune we have, collectively, as a nation. We have freedoms and opportunities unparalleled in the world. And, every nation has a checkered past. Many have a checkered present and future. Again, without that time machine, fixing the problems of the past isn’t going to happen. All we can do is strive for a better future.

Indigenous or not, It is a day to remember. So let’s break bread together.

There is nothing that brings people together like a well laid table. Friends and enemies can all agree that sustenance is a necessity we all share. And, the indigenous people of the Americas Showed that spirit of sharing with the people who would later wipe them off the face of the earth. It was a good faith gesture that all sides should learn to emulate. So, on this day when we mourn the losses of the past and laud the accomplishments of our country, let’s try to think back to that spirit of hospitality that Columbus, his successors, and the Pilgrims experienced when they first met the indigenous people of our lands.

We can do this by creating dishes steeped in Indigenous heritage. Corn, beans, squash, chiles, tomatoes, potatoes, vanilla, and cacao are all crops indigenous to the Natives of the Americas. And, their use for cooking is the basis of their cuisine. Natives ate a predominantly vegetarian diet. This makes sense, since the trilogy of corn, beans, and squash provide great complex carbohydrates and all 9 of the essential amino acids. You get more food and energy from vegetable crops than from animal protein. Plus, it is cleaner, easier to harvest, and digest. And, vegetables don’t attract other predators like coyotes the way animal carcasses do. This isn’t to say meat was not consumed. It just wasn’t a daily staple.

So what is on the menu?

Indigenous or not, It is a day to remember. And, what is one thing we all have long memories of? Food. We remember the sugary cereals we had as kids, the first time we ate spicy food, and that first gourmet dinner at a 4 star restaurant. And, yes, even the taste of McDonald’s french fries. So, let’s add a new taste memory that is older than all of those things and civilization as we know it. Indigenous or not, It is a day to remember.

When Columbus first landed in the western hemisphere it was on the islands of the Bahamas. The natives called the island Guanahani. Of course, Columbus had to change the name to San Salvador as a nod to Christ the Savior. It was an arrogant move that set the precedent for the upcoming invasion. But, I digress. Being an island, the natives would have the essential 8 crops for their food and the addition of seafood. So, our menu today will celebrate that first meeting where the Europeans were met with the hospitality of the Caribbean from the natives’ perspective.

Today’s depend on the 8 staples listed above, with the addition of a couple ingredients found in the tropical islands of the Bahamas like coconut, citrus, and other fruits. Sweet potatoes were native to the region. In fact, they were introduced to Europeans through the Columbus connection. People often think of rice as an island dish. But, Rice was brought by Europeans. Feel free to do a rice dish instead. Since Columbus was Italian, you could even make a nice risotto. Indigenous or not, we live in the land of the free.

Caribbean Spiced Grouper with Vanilla Mango Salsa

cheffd

Print Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Caribbean, Indigenous, Native

Servings 4 People

Ingredients

  

• 4 each 6 ounce boneless grouper fillets
• 1 tsp Chili Powder
• 1 tsp ground Cumin
• 1/2 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp Ground Allspice
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Coconut Oil for cooking
• 2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Cilantro
• 1 whole lime
• For the salsa
• 1 cup Fresh Mango (Peeled and diced about 1/4 inch)
• 1/2 cup diced sweet onion
• 3 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Cilantro
• 1 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Hot chili (Jalapeno or serrano is fine, step up to habanero if you want really spicy, but cut back on amount a bit)
• 1/4 cup diced bell pepper (Red, green, yellow, or orange)
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp Ground Cumin
• 1/4 tsp Ground Allspice

Instructions

 

• The toughest part is peeling and cutting the Mango. The Method that I have seen most success with is to place the mango on a cutting board. Cut off the two ends. Stand it up, and slide a knife down as close to the skin as possible to remove the skin in 1/2 to 1 inch strips, repeat until you have fully peeled the Mango. You should be able to see the top of the pit in the middle of the flesh. Carefully, slice down alongside the pit on both sides to cut the mango in half. Then, you can go back and cut the remaining flesh around the sides of the pit, feeling your way down with the knife. Mango flesh is very soft, when ripe. You will be able to tell if you are cutting into the pit, because it is very hard.
• Make the Salsa. Once you have cut all your fruits and vegetables, mix all the salsa ingredients in a bowl. refrigerate for about an hour or more for the flavors to blend.
• Mix all the spices and cilantro for the fish. Let the fish sit for about an hour to absorb the flavors of the spices. Then, heat a thin layer of coconut oil in a saute pan over medium high heat. When the oil is just below the smoking point, place the fish in the hot oil. Allow it to cook 3 to 4 minutes, then flip over to the other side. Let it finish cooking through. The amount of time, depends on the thickness of the fish fillets. When they are cooked through, squeeze some fresh lime on them and remove from the heat.
• Plate the Fish, and top with the mango salsa. Serve with Rice and Beans and seasonal grilled Squash or to be more authentic to pre-Columbian times use our Sweet potato succotash recipe.

Notes

You can substitute other fish for grouper if not available. Mahi Mahi, Tile Fish, Sea Bass, Red Fish, or Halibut are all good choices.

Keyword Caribbean, Grouper, Indigenous, Islands, mango, salsa, Spiced

Spicy Island Succotash

cheffd

Print Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine Bahamas, New World, Pre Columbian

Servings 4 People

Ingredients

  

• 1 Lb Peeled and Cubed Sweet Potato
• 1/2 cup Sweet Peas
• 1/2 cup Fresh Corn removed from the cob
• 1/2 cup Sweet Onion Diced
• 1 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Ginger
• ! Tbsp Chopped Hot Chilis (jalapeno or hotter)
• 1/4 cup Diced Bell Pepper
• 1/4 cup diced fresh tomato
• 1/2 cup Coconut Milk
• 1 tsp Ground Cumin
• 2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Corriander
• 2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Scallion
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Coconut oil for cooking

Instructions

 

• In a heavy pot or dutch oven, heat A thin layer of coconut oil over medium high heat. Add in the onion and ginger. Stir occasionally. Allow the onions to slightly caramelize.
• Add in the Sweet Potatoes. Allow them to brown a little. Stir as needed. Cook for about 5 minutes.
• Add the Chilis and cumin. Stir. Cook for about 1 minute. Then add the corn. Stir and cook about 5 minutes.
• Add in the Coconut milk. Bring to a boil. Then add the peppers and tomatoes. Continue cooking about 2 minutes. Add salt, pepper, scallions, and cilantro. Stir well. Then remove from the heat. Serve hot.

Keyword Bahamas, Baked Beans, corn, Indigenous, Islands, spicy, sweet potato