A Night of Indigenous Culture, Art, and Music in New York City on April 30
Experience Food, Art, Music, and Storytelling to Support Native Scholars
Denver, Colo., April 15, 206 — On April 30, New Yorkers will experience an unforgettable evening celebrating Indigenous culture at the American Indian College Fund’s New York City Epicurean Award to Support Scholars (EATSS) event from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Current, Pier 59, Chelsea Piers, New York, NY 10011. Five of the top Native chefs in the country will collectively prepare and present a full meal at this unique event, offering guests a rich and varied culinary experience. Their culinary skills weave together community, culture, and artistry, connecting patrons to millennia-old cooking traditions. The evening supports the College Fund’s work of transforming the lives of Indigenous students through higher education.
This night of celebration and shared cultural experience extends beyond food. Native performers will share aspects of their traditions and contemporary experiences through their art. Professional dancer Nakeema King (Upper Skagit Tribe) will share Indigenous culture and perspectives through contemporary Indigenous dance rooted in powwow traditions. Mother and daughter duo Twyla Baker and Hobawea Nahish Demaray (Mandan, Hidatsa, & Arikara Nation of Fort Berthold, North Dakota) will return for a second year to share traditional songs and inspire togetherness and connection. From beginning to end, NYC EATSS offers guests a unique window into Native creative expression and tradition.
The following Indigenous celebrity chefs will prepare a full meal for guests:
- Chef Bradley Dry (Cherokee) has been a chef for 12 years, cooking traditional Cherokee dishes from healthy, local ingredients. He specializes in preparing food for special events and people, and his dishes have been served at powwows, Folklorama, and to the cast and crew of Reservation Dogs.Chef
- Ben Jacobs (Osage Nation) is a nationally renowned chef and co-founder of Tocabe, An American Indian Eatery, the largest Native American restaurant chain. Tocabe expands on Jacob’s Osage family recipes to create a new and unique take on Native cuisine.
- Chef Paul Natrall (Squamish Nation) is an award-winning executive chef of Vancouver’s first Indigenous food truck, Mr. Bannock. Natrall utilizes ancient cooking methods to create an authentic experience steeped in tradition.
- Chef Anthony Bauer (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa) is the owner of Traditional Fire Custom Cuisine and has 25 years of experience in the food service industry. Bauer enjoys using traditional ingredients and giving them a modern twist.
- Chef Nathan Davis (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa) founded the A’Wiisinin Food Truck, where he showcases a unique fusion of classical and traditional food knowledge. Outside of the kitchen, Davis is deeply connected to his heritage through hunting, fishing, and trapping – skills he actively shares with others in his community.
The evening will also honor Gail Bruce, co-founder of the Native Arts Network and a longtime advocate for Indigenous artists, and Anne Sward Hansen, actress and activist known for her work on As the World Turns, for their longstanding support of Native communities and education.
Experience the best of Indigenous food, art, discussion, and entertainment while supporting the American Indian College Fund’s work of transforming the live of Native students.
Members of the press, please contact:
Dina Horwedel, Senior Director of Public Education and Communications
American Indian College Fund
303-430-5350
dhorwedel@collegefund.org
For event-related inquiries, please contact:
Zac Hunter, Publicist
Thelemata
757-304-2279
zac@thelemata.com
To purchase tickets please visit https://bit.ly/ny-eatss-2026.
About the American Indian College Fund — The American Indian College Fund has been the nation’s largest charity supporting Native higher education for 37 years. The College Fund believes “Education is the answer” and provided more than $23 million in scholarships and other student support for higher education in 2024-25. Since its founding in 1989 the College Fund has provided more than $391 million in scholarships, programs, community, and tribal college support. The College Fund also supports a variety of programs at the nation’s 35 accredited tribal colleges and universities, which are located on or near Indian reservations, ensuring students have the tools to graduate and succeed in their careers. The College Fund consistently receives top ratings from independent charity evaluators. It earned a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (Guidestar), and the “Best in America Seal of Excellence” from the Independent Charities of America. The College Fund was also named as one of the nation’s top 100 charities to the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance. For more information about the American Indian College Fund, please visit collegefund.org.
Journalists—The American Indian College Fund does not use the acronym AICF. On second reference, please use the College Fund.
