通过食物连接社区

Had you told Ben Jacobs when he was a first-year student at the University of Denver that one day he would own two successful restaurants, 他不会相信你的.

Jacobs, who is Native American, came to DU in 2001 to pursue his true passion, 历史 以及美洲原住民研究. He says even though there were few classes at the time that concentrated on Native 历史, he received a lot of support to do independent studies.

After graduating in 2005, Jacobs 和 fellow DU alum Matt Ch和ra — who received a degree in 媒体研究 — traveled to Oklahoma for the Native American ceremonial dances. 它就在那里, while discussing the lack of Native food in Denver, the two decided their next path in life.

“We really wanted to create a voice for Native food in our community, 在丹佛都会区, with the gr和 vision of making it something much larger,雅各布斯说. “We didn’t want just another pizza joint or just another burger place. There are restaurants everywhere, but there are not many restaurants with a Native focus.”

In 2008, they opened the first Tocabe restaurant in north Denver. Jacobs says his restaurant takes its origins from Grayhorse, a Native American eatery his parents owned nearly 30 years ago. He also draws from his experience at DU.

“What I really bring to Tocabe from learning Native 历史 is identity, 和 underst和ing that we are all here based on our previous experience 和 what our ancestors had gone through,他说. “Everything we do now is going to be looked back on, 和 how do we make sure that we make a positive step into our communities 和 make sure that we are evolving 和 changing.”

今天, nearly 10 years after opening their first store, Jacobs 和 Ch和ra have a second location on the south side of town 和 plans to exp和. Jacobs says the entire indigenous food movement is growing, 和 he hopes to see a day where the food he cooks is grown, 提高了, 加工过的, packaged 和 delivered all by Native people.

“Food is what truly brings us together. Being a part of Pow Wows 和 food sovereignty summits 和 going to different reservations to talk to youth, I’m finding myself in a positive movement,雅各布斯说. “The young people that I see are powered by identity 和 are excited about who they are again 和 sharing who they are.”