The Indian taco

When out-of-towners visit the rez, they often seek out an “authentic” Native meal to compliment their cultural experience. We often have one of our partner families cook for our visiting volunteers once during their weeklong stay. Not only does this accommodate the volunteers, but it also earns sweat equity hours for the family. The meal most requested? Indian tacos.

For those not in the know, an Indian taco is just like a regular taco, only with fry bread as the base instead of a hard- or soft-shell tortilla.

Speaking of fry bread, did you know it was designated as South Dakota’s state bread in 2005? What’s next, naming diabetes as the state’s official disease?

They are indeed delicious; you just never want to be present in the kitchen while they are made. I’ve never seen so much Crisco go into such a relatively small meal. It takes 24 hours for blood circulation in my left arm to return to normal after consuming just one Indian taco.

During the summer, it’s seems as though KINI, the local radio station, announces at least one Indian taco sale somewhere on the rez daily. Once, the DJ, while running through his announcements, said, “Listeners, I have some bad news for you.” He paused long enough for me to think about what tragedy had struck the reservation. My guess was the passing of an elder.

“The Indian taco sale in St. Francis is all sold out.”

Summertime has passed and with it the Indian taco sales. A group of college students has been here at Habitat since Saturday working on a construction site south of town. I was asked earlier today if it would be possible to get a hold of some Indian tacos for lunch. On such short notice, I couldn’t roundup one of our partner families to cook for them. (Fry bread takes some time to make.) So, I made a few phone calls around town to see who sold them.

First, Buche’s: “We sell them on Thursdays.”

Then, Turtle Creek Crossing: “Only on Wednesdays.”

And, finally, the Antelope: “Just Fridays.”

Indian tacos are a treasured treat here on the Rosebud; you just need to time it right though. And don’t forget to take your blood pressure medication beforehand.