INDIGEHOUSE: House of Smoke & Ash Presented by IndigeHub June 13, 2026
IndigeHouse: House of Smoke & Ash is the inaugural installment of an annual immersive activation presented during the 2026 James Beard Foundation Awards week. Designed to center Indigenous foodways and elevate producers, it transforms space into a living expression of culture through food, storytelling, and community engagement.
- The Market (12 PM – 10 PM)
Access: Open to the Public | Goal: Market Exposure
A day-long public forum featuring Indigenous chefs, foragers, artisans, and food producers from across Turtle Island. The Market serves as an accessible entry point, offering ingredients and goods that reflect the vibrancy of Indigenous food systems while providing producers direct access to the Chicago consumer market.
- The Conversation
Access: Registration Required | Goal: Thought Leadership
A curated, interactive dialogue bringing together chefs, farmers, and industry leaders. Moving beyond the traditional panel format, this session explores the intersections of food sovereignty, regenerative infrastructure, and the future of Indigenous culinary economics.
III. The Table
Access: Ticketed (Givebutter) | Goal: Culinary Excellence
The centerpiece of the activation: a multi-course dinner featuring our inaugural cohort of seven Indigenous chefs from across the Americas. This intentional, story-driven dining experience highlights ancestral techniques and regional ingredients through the lens of contemporary Indigenous excellence.
- The Gathering
Access: RSVP/Industry | Goal: Economic Bridge-Building
A celebratory networking space featuring small bites, drinks, and music. The Gathering acts as a bridge, intentionally connecting Indigenous producers and chefs directly to institutional partners and new market opportunities in a relaxed, joyful environment.
Registration & Ticketing Logistics
All registration and ticket sales for the IndigeHouse activation will be centralized through a dedicated Givebutter digital hub. This mission-driven platform allows us to manage four distinct access levels with high-speed efficiency:
Tiered Access: We will utilize separate registration flows for public segments (The Market), professional dialogues (The Conversation), and premium ticketed dining (The Table).
Industry RSVPs: The Gathering will be managed via a private RSVP link targeted at industry leaders and partners to ensure high-value networking and capacity control.
Seamless Entry: To maintain Chicago’s high-traffic event standards, all segments will utilize mobile QR-code scanning for rapid, contact-free check-ins.
Impact Tracking: As a 501(c)(3) organization, this centralized system allows us to capture vital demographic data and donor analytics, turning event attendance into a measurable pipeline for our “producer-to-market” mission.
RSVP By: June 6 tohello@indigehouse.com
