America's Northern Arapaho Tribe to Sell Beef to Whole Foods Market

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A long-time supporter of all things organic and sustainable, as well as a supporter of the rights and economic empowerment of indigenous peoples, I was more than pleased to read an AP report today announcing that the Northern Arapaho tribe of Wyoming has certified its 70 year old cattle ranch as Organic and sealed a deal to sell its beef to Whole Foods Market.

I've always said that a happy animal in life is a tasty animal in death, and though not expressed exactly the same way, tribal council member Norman Willow told the AP, "Anything living we treat them like a brother, that will pass on to the people who eat it."

Though the initial sales will be to Whole Foods stores in the Rocky Mountains region, it's my hope that Whole Foods will move towards wider distribution and look to America's tribes for other organic goods they can sell in stores around the country. As another tribal council member, Ron Oldman, stated to the AP, "Part of our heritage is to be nurturers of the land."

Truth is, if modern American society had learned even one lesson about caring for the land—and its animals—from the people who inhabited this continent for 60,000+ years without causing environmental degradation, we wouldn't be in the mess we find ourselves today, nor would we have to distinguish between "organic" and crap foods full of dangerous pesticides and hormones. Organic, free-range, rBST-free are not new trends, they are old, very old ways of doing things, and we need to get back to them.

Even in times of economic challenge, I refuse to buy crap food, and you should too. Eat less meat to meet your budget, but eat good meat. It's better for the environment, your health, and of course, your taste buds.

Read the AP story!