OKLAHOMA CITY (March 30, 2026) — After a landmark weekend celebrating the release of her new cookbook, “A Feather and a Fork: 125 Intertribal Dishes from an Indigenous Food Warrior,” First Americans Museum (FAM) is proud to announce that Crystal Wahpepah (Kickapoo) has been appointed as the new consulting chef for 39 Enterprises, which runs the museum’s dining, catering and private events operations.
Coinciding with the beginning of spring—a season of renewal and the traditional new year for many of the 39 tribal nations in Oklahoma today—the partnership marks a new chapter for 39 Enterprises and a homecoming of sorts for the chef. Wahpepah rose to national acclaim in her home of Oakland, California, where she founded Wahpepah’s Kitchen, the state’s first Native woman-owned restaurant. However, her roots and heritage are tied to the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma.
“Chef Crystal is more than a chef,” said Dr. Kelli Mosteller (Citizen Potawatomi), FAM executive director. “She is a visionary who has spent her career not only revitalizing Indigenous foodways and elevating traditional cuisine, but she’s also done so in a way that is focused on fostering community.”…