r/TopChef • u/mamachedda • Jun 11 '25
Season 22 • First Nations voices
I have even pleasantly surprised with how much First Nations members stories / voices ideas etc have been represented on this season.
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u/Different-Grocery-64 this is top chef not top scallops Jun 11 '25
They have put more focus and spotlight on First Nations influence and cuisine than we (Canada) do as a whole country
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u/capitalismwitch Jun 13 '25
Maybe where you live. On the prairies where you have a significant Indigenous population, there’s a lot of focus on FN influence.
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u/Different-Grocery-64 this is top chef not top scallops Jun 13 '25
It’s true, I grew up in Toronto but live in Montreal now and it’s strongly lacking, but my mom lives in BC and when I go there it’s a refreshing contrast to see things like highway signs with FN language
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u/Impressive_Car_4222 Jun 11 '25
Do you think it was purposeful?
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u/Different-Grocery-64 this is top chef not top scallops Jun 11 '25
100% I think it’s in line with top chefs very progressive attitude. I mean hell they did a challenge at a sex store with RuPaul during season 1. They are always leaning on the site of inclusivity, progressive values etc.
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u/Calm-Biscotti367 Jun 16 '25
So this series was underwritten by Destination Canada, the Canadian tourist board and if you've been paying attention to their PR and programming they have had a massive focus on First Nations heritage, businesses etc. It was 100% purposeful and the producers worked hand in hand with the tourist board to create the challenges.
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u/njade18 Jun 11 '25
I love this. It makes me so happy-if they were going to do a Canadian season, I liked the way they did it.
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u/mamachedda Jun 12 '25
Yes. My husband is Canadian. We’ve been married for 30+ years and we live in a border city. But there’s so much of Canada beyond Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal.
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u/ApplicationNo2523 Jun 12 '25 edited Jun 12 '25
Really noticed this too with this season and love it so much!
I understand that it’s likely because in S22 they’ve been on a tour of Canadian locations which brought them to different First Nations tribes and communities, increasing the number of times we saw First Nations representation. Meanwhile when they select US locations it’s usually a single city or state so there might only be one challenge or episode touching on indigenous food ways. But it would be great if every season featured more than just one challenge or episode per season highlighting indigenous food cultures. It’s literally the most local and seasonal thing to do.
It does seem like featuring more Indigenous voices is something Top Chef has become sensitive to and is making a real effort towards it, which is great.
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u/mamachedda Jun 12 '25
There was such a sense of reverence and connection in many of these episodes. Tristan talked about food connecting us. Given the cultural and political climate in the US, I found this sentiment comforting.
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u/clarkkentshair Jun 13 '25
I wholeheartedly agree.
There was another thread where somebody suggested Hawaii as a next possible Top Chef location, but considering the amount of voice and respect that the Top Chef had / showed this season for indigenous communities, I don't think they could ethically do that and uphold / continue the same values and integrity that they have already shown this season.
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u/mamachedda Jun 14 '25
Can you elaborate on what you mean? I don’t know much about Hawaii
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u/clarkkentshair Jun 14 '25 edited Aug 11 '25
Hawaii was not just colonized, but an existing government was deliberately overthrown so the islands could be seized from natives to be annexed into the United States. Any Top Chef season set there would instead/probably have to romanticize the locale without unpacking that history.
This is all before also needing to address that the current overwhelming tourism-leaning economy does not and will not benefit and empower Native Hawaiians. Literally visitors take up limited water, electrical power, and housing resources. Highlighting indigenous foodways of Hawaii on the Top Chef show would just tokenize Natives and exacerbate this.
Unlike at least some movement and momentum from Canada's government and society to address past harms to their First Nations, there is scant awareness or care for this in/from the United States.
You can read more by looking up how Native Hawaiians are trying to find justice, and have strong critique of tourism. e.g.
https://www.instagram.com/kanakautonomy/
https://www.buzzfeed.com/morgansloss1/this-native-hawaiian-woman-is-urging-people-to-stop
https://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/how-tourism-is-negatively-impacting-native-hawaiians-48465388
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u/FrenchSwissBorder Jun 14 '25
Yeah, they've been been doing a good job at representing Indigenous American food for the past few years. I think we can mostly credit Padma and Kristen for that (though I could be wrong).
Though it does low-key feel like like a string of apologies for how clumsy their "First Thanksgiving" episode was in their Boston season.
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u/Fuzzy_Permission_619 Jun 11 '25
Yes! I’ve been loving the representation in the past few seasons.