As winter transitions to spring and the redbud trees bloom in Oklahoma, Cherokee chef Bradley James Dry begins his annual foraging for morels and wild green onions. Wild onions are a staple of Native American cuisine in the South, and communities in Oklahoma come together every Saturday from February to May for wild onion dinners. Dry, foraging near downtown Tulsa, reflects on his grandmother, who taught him how to pick and cook wild onions using traditional methods. Alongside dishes like fried pork, beans, frybread, and cornbread, wild onions are typically boiled and fried, though Dry enjoys incorporating them into more contemporary dishes like omelets and kimchi.
One Saturday morning, over 100 people eagerly await the opening of the tribal community center in Okmulgee for a wild onion dinner fundraiser to support Claudia McHenry’s journey to the Miss Indian World Pageant. Churches in Oklahoma, particularly United Methodist Churches in Native American communities, have long used wild onion dinners to raise funds for various causes. The community’s support for McHenry as she pursues her goal gives her the encouragement she needs to continue forward. Hundreds show up to pay for a plate of food, supporting McHenry’s journey or the local church while enjoying the delicious traditional dishes and the warm community atmosphere.
Visitors from near and far flock to the Springfield UMC in Okemah for their famous fried pork and wild onion dishes each year. The church’s wild onion dinner has become an annual tradition, drawing attendees from Arkansas, Kansas, Texas, and beyond. Head cook Carol Tiger oversees the preparations, and families contribute to ensure there is enough food for the hundreds of hungry guests. The event is more than just a dinner; it’s a gathering of families and friends, with elders sharing stories, children playing nearby, and vendors selling their wares. The event is a celebration of community and tradition, with attendees lingering well into the afternoon before reluctantly departing.
The wild onion dinner season continues at various locations throughout Oklahoma into mid-April, offering attendees the chance to experience the warmth of community, traditional dishes, and the joy of coming together. From churches raising funds for important causes to individuals like Dry preserving and adapting traditional recipes, the wild onion dinners showcase the rich culinary and communal traditions of Native American communities in Oklahoma. The events bring people together to enjoy delicious food, support each other, and celebrate their shared heritage, creating lasting memories and connections in the process. In this way, the wild onion dinners embody the spirit of community, tradition, and resilience that are hallmarks of Indigenous cultures in Oklahoma.
