✨An Insomniac’s Reflections on Time, Place, and Resistance✊

It takes time to figure out what truly matters to you, and even more time to understand how your voice can shape the future. The values we hold, whether personal or shared with our communities, are not just about what we hope to achieve. They are also revealed in how we respond when things do not go as planned.

I have learned that having a plan does not guarantee stability. Life shifts. Systems shift, and sometimes, those in power shift the ground beneath us, deliberately. Communities that have fought hard to build leadership and local trust, are often the very ones targeted for dismantling.

We are seeing it happen, where local leaders are silenced, institutions defunded, and decisions made without the people most affected in the room.When that happens, we cling to what gives us hope, even if it looks different than what we imagined. But hope alone is not enough.

We must be clear eyed about what is at stake. Serving our communities means protecting the voices within them, especially when those voices are under threat. It means asking hard questions, staying grounded in our values, and refusing to be passive when structures are being quietly eroded.

This is a reminder: leadership does not disappear overnight. It is pushed out, undermined, or co opted. If we care about the future, we need to be just as committed to defending local leadership as we are to dreaming about what is possible.

©Ramon Shiloh/2025

🔥FOOD JOURNAL PART 2🔥 Holy Moly Bar Popup Event

I want to reflect on what recently took place in Tacoma, WA.

I hosted a pop-up at Holy Moly Bar. It was more than a dinner, it was a conversation. My goal was to introduce First Nations foods into a space where they are rarely seen and challenge how we relate to alcohol. This wasn’t about judgment but about inviting dialogue about why we consume, how we consume, and the meaning behind it.

Alcohol has deeply harmed Indigenous communities, often simplified under the myth of “firewater.” Yet alcohol itself is neutral; its power lies in our relationship with it. That inspired my first course:

🔥FIREWATER with Yaupon Tea and Juniper Sticky Corn (Southeastern United States)

Juniper Sticky Corn reflects warmth, excess, and the influence of alcohol, infused with medicinal juniper powder for balance. Yaupon tea, sacred to Southeastern Indigenous peoples, offers purification and ceremony. Together, they represent two opposing forces: altered states and natural order. The dish ignites alcohol in flame, symbolizing transformation. Each sip, each bite, asked guests to consume with intention, because every choice carries a story.

Holy Moly was the perfect setting: rustic wood grain, minimalist sophistication, and bartenders skilled in the history of spirits. Owner Matt Coppins welcomed my vision, recognizing this was about honest engagement with alcohol’s role, not condemnation.

This event also marked my return to Tacoma, where I had an opportunity of opening a restaurant before an accident in 2021 derailed my plans. Preparing for this pop-up allowed me to reignite that purpose, bringing food sovereignty and healing into public spaces.

Thank you to Ms. Janes Fine Dining in Fife for providing prep space and ingredients, to Matt and the @holymolybar staff for their openness, to @asa_nutter for standing by me, and to @cowlitzforager for grounding me in the rhythms of the land.

And to every guest: thank you for listening, feeling, and understanding. That is the real nourishment.

📸 A sampling of the night. Courtesy of Kris Landes✨
Descriptions will be noted at another time. Still hunting for photos from the event. 😭

©Chef Ramon Shiloh/2025

🔥FOOD JOURNAL PART ONE🔥 Leonard Peltier/Bison Tongue

In tumultuous times, I believe the most powerful way to bring people together is through gatherings where food serves as a bridge to understanding. These spaces create opportunities for meaningful conversations and healthy dialogue that can transform problems into solutions.

Even while practicing food justice, offering meals with care and diplomacy, our concerns are often overlooked by those unable to relate when sharing a table.

I was originally scheduled to cook Bison Tongue for Leonard Peltier. This opportunity held deep meaning for me and could have marked a turning point in my life. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, Leonard and his family had to postpone. In response, Sean Sherman aka.Sioux Chef of Indigenous Food Lab invited me to Minneapolis to prepare the meal in Leonard’s honor.

What followed was an experience of reflection and connection. I approached the meal as a ceremonial offering, carefully selecting each ingredient to symbolize both Leonard’s confinement and his release. Regardless of differing views on his incarceration, one truth remains: we must all seek ways to heal from our experiences.

During my visit, I filmed the preparation of this ceremonial meal. It was never intended as a recipe but as a ceremony rooted in healing and storytelling. Each element was prepared with purpose and respect.

The Indigenous Food Lab is a professional Indigenous kitchen and training center committed to building a new Indigenous food system that reintegrates Native foods and education into tribal communities. They envision tribally operated kitchens that revitalize culture and nutrition across Native communities.

I am deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to my gofundme to get this project started. With this unexpected postponement, those dollars will still be used for the connection I will have with Leonard when the time is right. Thank you @alexciadevasquez, for traveling twenty seven hours with me to Minneapolis, and to OWAMNI and the Indigenous Food Lab team for allowing me to share this meaningful meal.

The FULL VIDEO is available on the “Indigenous Food Lab” YouTube channel.

To support Indigenous food sovereignty, visit NATIFS.ORG

©Chef Ramon Shiloh 2025

Kicking Rocks In All Directions

 

It’s clear where we stand today as a society. Whether you lean right, left, or independent, I don’t care, because the damage has already been done. I’ve accepted that I can’t stop a tornado and the chaos of decision-making that unfolds while we sleep. Every day, we wake up to new developments that either align with our hopes or bring unexpected consequences.

I care how these changes will affect us, whether they happen naturally or by force. Like COVID, we will all feel the ripple effects of executive orders that shape or hurt us. But with the complaints, one truth remains: we have a voice, and there is a call to action. We must empower each other to create meaningful change.

As an artist, chef, public speaker, and writer, I use my gifts to shape narratives that challenge, inform, and inspire. We all have a voice whether one of reason, distortion, or destruction, it demands attention. Culturally, racially, and spiritually, we are all navigating toward a greater understanding of our actions. At least, it seems to be that way.

Today’s debates often feel like an echo chamber, drowning out the most critical issues. Instead of endless online debates, let’s create. Artists like Joan Baez, Marvin Gaye, Bob Dylan, and Banksy have shaped conversations through music and art. If you don’t consider yourself an artist, become one. Design greeting cards, speak at open mics, study journalism, or organize gatherings. Support local businesses, create flash mobs to uplift struggling communities, and volunteer.

I rarely discuss politics because my friends span the spectrum of beliefs. But my art will speak for itself when I perform The Alphabet Monologues: A Political Art Book at the University of Oregon this fall. It’s a show that goes straight to the core of the issues we’re facing in 2025. The Alphabet Monologues is more than a performance; it’s a political art book brought to life, using storytelling, music, and visual art to challenge perspectives and stir dialogue. In these times, let’s support each other, be kind, and serve those in need. Thank you.

My Stupid Stamp Signature!!
©Ramon Shiloh/2025 

Leonard Peltier’s Healing Meal

 

Walking a healthy path means navigating change, sometimes in unexpected directions. My journey has been filled with doubts, missteps, and uncertainty, yet each challenge has shaped my growth. Though imperfect, my road is mine, and I am proud of where it has led me.

As I embark on my next food campaign, I see my path aligning with service and healing.

I have been invited to cook a private dinner for Leonard Peltier and his family. An honor I never expected. This “healing meal” will reflect his journey and the new one he now begins. Through food and storytelling, it will embody resilience, understanding, and the lessons carried forward through time.

Each course will carry meaning, honoring the four directions in a Native way. It is my privilege to prepare this meal with care, respect, and love.

Kathy Peltier and her mother, Anne Begay, whom I’ve known since 2005, invited me into this sacred moment. I am honored to nourish Leonard when the time is right.

This moment feels historic, and I pray this meal brings not just sustenance but healing. I look forward to preparing it with gratitude, knowing my food will uplift those who receive it.

Titled: “Land and Sky Unite” The hatchet symbolizes time being chipped away, as Mother Corn nourishes us in times of need. As we smudge away negativity, we invite the eagle to carry our spirits into a new realm of sustenance. 

Welcome Home Leonard Peltier. 

©Chef Ramon Shiloh/2025 

My Partnership with Anne Mulaire

I am deeply grateful to be part of Anne Mulaire fashion company. Our journey together began when Anne reached out to me over Instagram, recognizing something in my heart that resonated with her vision. That connection led to a powerful collaboration, introducing my Indigenous Legacy Feather designs as part of an incredible collection for National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, 2023.

As one of the first guest artists from the United States to collaborate with Anne Mulaire, I wasn’t sure how my art would be received. But when we debuted my feather designs, the response was so supportive. The artistic expression behind the feathers, along with the message we conveyed, resonated with people. To further honor and extend that message, Anne Mulaire created beautiful greeting cards featuring my designs, expressing gratitude for the artwork and the cultural significance behind it.

I am honored and proud to be part of Anne Mulaire’s journey and the legacy of meaningful, sustainable fashion. This company’s commitment to health, wellness, and environmental responsibility is inspiring. Their products are more than clothing. They are statements of care, respect, and purpose.

Thank you Anne Mulaire, for welcoming me into your family. I look forward to creating more designs and contributing to this beautiful movement in the years to come.

“Beautiful. Sustainable. Zero Waste. Buy better, buy less.

The natural fabrics used in Anne Mulaire’s clothing are grown without pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers…EVER!”

Also, I’d also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to @jodi_bnsn24 Chief of Sustainability and Climate Justice, researcher, storyteller, mountaineer, and ice climber.

“Since 2019, you’ve been driving the Anne Mulaire sustainability bus to greener pastures”, and I’m so grateful for your dedication. Thank you for being such a huge supporter of my work. Hugs and Love to you my friend!

For more information about Anne Mulaire and their beautiful clothes. Please follow them.

How Fragile We Are

Life is built on routine. We wake up, prepare ourselves, show up on time, and do our best. Over time, this routine becomes a system, something we refine until it defines who we are. It becomes our legacy with a path others might follow.

But what happens when everything we’ve worked for is suddenly taken away by forces beyond our control? In nature, animals adapt. When they fail, they retreat, survive, and try again. But humans struggle with loss differently. Instead of accepting defeat and moving forward, we seek revenge. We turn our frustration against each other.

For all our intelligence, we’re our own worst enemy. We harm not only ourselves but also the world around us. In today’s society, success isn’t just about building something meaningful. It’s about proving something to others. And in that pursuit, we sometimes forget what truly matters.

©Ramon Shiloh/2025