It began as an Indian taco stand at the annual Gathering at the Falls Pow Wow at Riverfront Park in Spokane, Wash. Today that taco stand has grown into two locations of Indigenous Eats, a restaurant co-owned by Yakama Nation member Jenny Slagle. She and her husband and business partner, Andrew, operate the two Spokane eateries, where they offer a menu of “Native American comfort food.”
Their goal is to source supplies and ingredients from Native and tribally owned distributors. “Sourcing Indigenous-owned food suppliers remains one of our biggest challenges in running the restaurants,” explains Slagle. “There’s a wild rice blend we offer as a substitute for fry bread, but we have not been able to find a Native source for this product. Food security — meaning having a variety of Native suppliers for the natural Indigenous food ingredients we want to offer — has been difficult.”
Slagle says that the previous experience she and her husband gained while working in the gaming regulatory industry has proven helpful in terms of licensing, food operations, and the processes involved. However, another challenge in launching their venture was a lack of capital. “Not having access to funding and knowing where to turn for that funding were the first hurdles we needed to clear,” she explains.
After approaching Craft3, a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution that works with entrepreneurs by offering startup resources, they learned about the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) guarantor program. Craft3 assisted the Slagles with qualifying for the BIA program. They also received a grant from the Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund.
Slagle was raised on the Yakama Nation Reservation in central Washington, and she and her husband have lived in the Spokane area for the past 24 years, raising their family there. According to Slagle, there are some 24,000 Native people in Spokane County, including members of 29 federally recognized tribes in Washington. Spokane County is home to urban Natives from over 300 various tribes across the U.S. “We knew when we opened Indigenous Eats that we would have a strong base of Native customers who would not only support us but hopefully recommend us to others,” she says.
Slagle sees a correlation between her restaurant and its Native-based offerings and sharing Indigenous culture, past and present. “Today Natives and non-Natives alike can get a strong sense of who we are when they come to our restaurants and see the types of menu items we offer,” she explains. “We want to educate our customers about who modern Natives are, and that starts with food.”
Slagle’s community involvement goes beyond foodways. At one of the restaurant’s locations she hosts a monthly networking event for people interested in entrepreneurship or community empowerment. Like her dedication to operating two restaurants, the fact that everyone is welcome at the event speaks to the satisfaction Slagle gets from serving others. “I enjoy making others happy,” she says. “I’ve always had a servant leadership approach to what I do.”
In addition to owning and operating two Indigenous eateries, Slagle is serving a six-year term on the Spokane Public School Board, the first Native American woman to be elected to the board. “Of the approximately 30,000 students in the district, about 3 percent identify as Native American,” she says. “My priority is improving the learning experience for all students, with added attention to the Native students, who may come from more challenging learning environments given their living situations.”
Slagle says she has always been one to create her own role or be the first Indigenous representative in whatever position she is in. Having mentors from both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, younger and older than herself, has been a major contributor to her success. “Mentorship is important, and being able to establish relationships with those from other sectors, ages, and ethnicities is important for personal growth,” she explains.
Her advice for anyone thinking about opening an Indigenous business? “Look for ways to fill any gaps you see in an industry you are interested in,” says Slagle. “We’re one of a few Native-owned restaurants in Spokane. Look at how to be the first of your type of business or how you can differentiate your business from others in a similar industry. Focus on being innovative.”
