Apache Chef Apprentice Program

 As we near the winter ski season on The White Mountain Apache Tribe and here at Sunrise Park Resort, I am launching an "Apache Chef Apprentice Program" within our culinary department. This is a collaborative effort and community outreach is a critical element in this project. I will also be utilizing resources and culinary information collected during my years of work as chef and founder of The Native American Culinary Association or NACA. The White Mountain Apache Tribe, NACA and Sunrise park Resort support this culinary endeavor.

Purpose

The purpose of this program is to cultivate an environment of learning with food and culinary culture as an axis for learning. We aim to use food as a medium to communicate and address issues of culture, place, foodways, work-ethic, identity and wellness.

Objectives

The objective of this program is to creatively draw on internal resources such as personal sensory experience with food, work-ethic, culinary creativity and professional ambition while developing Native American Cuisine, specifically White Mountain Apache Cuisine. Another objective is to provide an outlet and potential career pathway for adults and at-risk youth by demonstrating the importance of mentorship and discipline in professional cookery.  It is a major objective to provide physical, technical and intellectual skill enhancement by reinforcing culinary fundamentals and Apache cultural principles of life.

Applicants will be screened, tested and only a few will make the final cut. The number of Apache Chef Apprentice positions will be a minimum of 4 and no more than 8. There are a number of factors that determine the number of apprentices and openings will be announced. This is a very unique opportunity that any aspiring chef or young adult looking to enhance their current skill set should take advantage of.

Sunrise Park Resort will be holding a job fair on October 25-26, 2011 in Whiteriver, Arizona at the Memorial Hall from 9:00am to 4:00pm on both days. Mention this Apaches in the Kitchen Blog and express your interest in the Apache Chef Apprentice Program. You can also respond here on this blog or send me an email at nephi_craig@yahoo.com

* Keep in mind that not all applicants will be selected so get out your knives and study professional cooking and culinary culture in America, our region and abroad!