Loretta Barrett Oden facts for kids

Loretta Barrett Oden is a talented chef, food historian, and writer. She is also a television host! Loretta is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, a Native American tribe. She is well-known for sharing the amazing history and flavors of Native American foods. She even hosted a PBS TV show called Seasoned With Spirit: A Native Cook's Journey. Loretta also writes a regular column, Spirit of the Harvest, for Native Peoples Magazine.

Early Life and Heritage

Loretta Barrett Oden was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma. She is proud to be a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. This is a Native American tribe.

Exploring Native Foods

Loretta spent three years traveling all over the United States. She wanted to learn about the traditional recipes of many different Native American tribes. She gathered a lot of knowledge about their unique cooking styles.

Opening a Restaurant

In the early 1990s, when Loretta was 50 years old, she opened her own restaurant. It was called Corn Dance Café. She opened it with her son, Clayton, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The dishes at the restaurant were inspired by all the tribal traditions she had learned during her travels. It was a place where people could try authentic Native American flavors.

Sharing Her Knowledge

Loretta returned to Oklahoma in 2003. She continued her work as a native foods historian and writer. She is now a chef consultant for the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This means she helps them with food-related projects.

Loretta is also working with AARP on a special program. It is called Native Origins. This program helps provide meals for elders in Native communities.

Television Host and Awards

Loretta wrote and hosted a PBS television series. It was called Seasoned With Spirit: A Native Cook's Journey. For her work on this show, she won a New England Emmy. This is a big award for television shows!

Supporting Native Food Traditions

Loretta is a founding member of an important group. It is called the Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance. This group helps Native peoples have food security. This means they work to make sure Native communities can grow and produce their own traditional foods. It helps keep their food traditions strong.

Loretta also writes a regular column. It is called Spirit of the Harvest. You can find it in Native Peoples Magazine.

Family Life

Loretta Oden has two sons. She also has two stepdaughters.