ICT Q&A with Karlene Hunter, Native American Natural Foods

Thursday, January 17, 2013  

"In early January, Hunter talked to Indian Country Today Media Network about the NASFT award, Native American Natural Foods’ success, the Tanka Bar recipe and what she envisions for the company’s future.

What was it about your vision that caught the judges’ attention?

Coming from the area that we come from, we really are social entrepreneurs. We have a triple bottom line. The dollar is important, but we are trying to create economic development with Native American Natural Foods—job opportunities—create a healthy lifestyle. Forty-four percent of our adult population has type 2 diabetes. You know, we are coming from a food desert; and to eat healthy, we really have to get back to eating traditionally, to become the nation we once were before we were put on the reservation. And [we also want] to create an economic viability of buffalo producing on our reservation. That is the reason we started the company. I think the judges understand the vision that we have. It is just not singular: Get in for the money, flip the company in three years and sell to one of the major food companies in the nation.

Who is the “consumer” of the Tanka Bar?

The running joke around here, it is anyone who eats real food. It is because we cross so many paths, so many channels. We have the athletes who use it for the protein. It is a good snack while you are working out, while you are training, while you are doing cross country. That is why we fit well in REI. Then we have the health arena. It is great for diabetes. It gives you sustainable energy. A lot of our diabetes programs, when they are doing dialysis, give it as a snack to their patients. Head Starts across the country are using it for their children instead of giving them a sugar snack in the afternoon. The kids love it. Because of the cranberries, it has a sweetness to it."

Get the Story:
Oglala Sioux Female Entrepreneur Behind the Tanka Bar Shares her Business Vision (Indian Country Today 1/16)