Burning Cedar helps Native families grow traditional food and culture

A Tulsa-based nonprofit is helping Indigenous families reconnect with their cultural roots by promoting traditional foods through community gardening and education.

‘Food is Medicine’ Focus Promotes Holistic Wellness

Burning Cedar Sovereign Wellness, founded in 2023, is growing more than just vegetables. Through its “Food is Medicine” program, the organization is revitalizing traditional Indigenous foods that nourish not only the body but also mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Related Story: Burning Cedar Sovereign Wellness: Reconnecting Tulsa’s Native community to ancestral roots

Executive Director Nico Albert Williams says their approach emphasizes the role of ancestral plants in restoring health and community connection.

“Every little square inch of space we have… we’re trying to reestablish native plants,” Williams said. “That might be pollinator species that support biodiversity in our region. We partner with the Euchee Butterfly Farm to use their seeds and seedlings to restore biodiversity in every little corner we have here. A lot of those plants can be used as food and medicine for us.”

Community Gardens Rooted in Tradition

Burning Cedar has built raised garden beds, cleared invasive species, and introduced traditional plants on its property.

The organization recently launched a new initiative to install 20 food gardens in Native households across Tulsa, using seeds sourced from tribal seed banks.

They’ve also added a mini greenhouse to grow seedlings, ensuring the community has access to culturally significant crops year-round.

Protecting Native Pollinators and Food Systems

One unique element of the program is the use of Oklahoma-native milkweed species to support the monarch butterfly population, a key pollinator in the region.

“It’s really important we plant milkweed that’s specific to Oklahoma and to our little micro-region here… so that the butterflies, the monarchs, know where they are on their journey,” Williams explained. “They recognize that based on the specific milkweed they're eating.”

Addressing Health Disparities Through Culture

Williams says the work is about more than food—it’s about reversing longstanding health disparities. Native communities face higher rates of diabetes, obesity and heart disease.

By restoring cultural foodways, Burning Cedar hopes to create lasting change.

How You Can Support the Mission

Burning Cedar Sovereign Wellness encourages community members to:

1. Volunteer in local garden projects
2. Use native plants from partners like the Euchee Butterfly Farm
3. Learn more about seed-saving and traditional food preparation

The organization believes that even in urban spaces, growing ancestral foods can help Native families reconnect with the land, their culture, and their heritage.