Press Releases Seattle Artist Louie Gong Explores ‘Food is Medicine’ in Northwest Harvest’s April #ArtistsForFoodJustice Collaboration April 2, 2025 Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Email Louie Gong’s Art Honors Indigenous Knowledge through “Food is Medicine” in Northwest Harvest’s Yearlong #ArtistsForFoodJustice Series SEATTLE, Wash. (April 2, 2025)— This week, Northwest Harvest announced Coast Salish artist Louie Gong (Nooksack) as Aprils’ featured creator in the #ArtistsForFoodJustice series, a yearlong exploration that brings Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) artists to the table to interpret monthly themes about food’s meaning. Gong’s work, highlighting the April theme “Food is Medicine,” looks at the deep connection between food, culture, and healing. A self-taught artist and entrepreneur, Gong blends watercolor and Chinese ink with Coast Salish design elements, a fusion that echoes the intersection of ancestral knowledge and contemporary storytelling. He has spent his career reclaiming Native representation in art and commerce. He founded Eighth Generation, the first Native-owned company to produce wool blankets at scale, shifting millions in revenue to Native artists. His work has been showcased at the Smithsonian and the American Museum of Natural History, among others, and he has collaborated with major brands like Starbucks, Brooks Running, and Alaska Airlines. Louie Gong’s interpretation of “Food is Medicine.” “The ‘Food is Medicine’ theme honors the deep Indigenous value of respecting the foods that sustain us,” says Gong. “While salmon is a revered Coast Salish staple, I chose to highlight the chicken—an often-overlooked yet culturally significant food. By incorporating stinging nettle, a plant valued for its medicinal properties, my work bridges traditional and modern understandings of nourishment and healing.” While Western medicine often treats symptoms through pharmaceuticals, Indigenous food systems have long embraced a holistic approach, one where the natural world provides both sustenance and healing. Research shows that nearly 40% of modern pharmaceuticals originate from plant-based compounds that Indigenous communities have used for centuries. Yet, due to colonization, land loss, and disrupted food systems, many Native communities today face significant barriers to accessing these traditional foods. Recognizing this challenge, Northwest Harvest and its statewide partners are committed to restoring access to nutritious, culturally significant foods in Tribal communities. “For Indigenous peoples, food has always been medicine,” says Kelsey Philemon, Northwest Harvest staffer and Indigenous advocate. I feel a profound connection to how his art honors and uplifts our Indigenous food knowledge. It’s incredibly powerful to see an Indigenous artist spotlight our traditions in this way.” Gong’s work for “Food is Medicine” is a visual celebration of Indigenous resilience and the sacred relationship between land, food, and healing. Learn more and get involved: View Gong’s interpretation of “Food Is Medicine” at www.northwestharvest.org/news-insights/artists-for-food-justice-april/. Community members can also record and share their own “Food is Medicine” stories at northwestharvest.org/meaning-of-food Media requests: High-resolution artwork and artist interviews available upon request. Media interested in following this yearlong community dialogue or partnering on sustained coverage can contact Zomi Anderson at ZomiA@northwestharvest.org or 772-924-8555. About Louie Gong Louie Gong (Nooksack) is a renowned Coast Salish artist, activist, and entrepreneur known for blending traditional and contemporary art. As the founder of Eighth Generation, the first Native-owned wool blanket company, he helped shift millions in revenue to Native artists and businesses. His work has been featured at the Smithsonian and Harvard’s Peabody Essex Museum, and he has collaborated with brands like Brooks Running, Starbucks, and Alaska Airlines. In 2019, he sold Eighth Generation to the Snoqualmie Tribe, continuing his mission of economic empowerment for Native artists. Now serving on the U.S. Senate’s Commission on Art, Louie remains a strong advocate for cultural artists. About Northwest Harvest Northwest Harvest is an anti-racist, anti-oppression organization committed to transforming an unjust food system into one that is more responsive and accountable to the communities most impacted by discrimination. In addition to distributing food to more than 350 partners throughout Washington state, Northwest Harvest aims to shift public opinion, as well as impact institutional policies and societal practices that perpetuate hunger, poverty, and disparities in our state. www.northwestharvest.org ###
