Pemmican Patty: Preserving, Protecting, and Promoting Our Culture

The Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) proudly supports Tribal agribusiness owners to elevate Indian agriculture and connect producers with vital resources—locally, nationally, and globally, even at an international level. One of our most impactful initiatives is the American Indian Foods (AIF) program, which opens doors to global markets and amplifies products worldwide. 

At the heart of AIF is the “Made/Produced by American Indians” trademark, certifying that products are made or produced by members of federally recognized Tribes. The trademark—established in 1993—has been a trusted mark of authenticity for over 32 years! It has been an absolute honor for IAC to witness the innovation and passion of Tribal entrepreneurs, and their success stories don’t just stop within their communities. Trademarked business producers cater to worldwide audiences at conferences, trade shows and open markets.  

In the spirit of celebrating our globetrotting producers, we want to spotlight one of AIF’s active trademark users, Patricia Mabin, the owner and CEO of Pemmican Patty Food Company. Patricia is an enrolled citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians located in North Dakota, and she’s been an integral part of AIF’s programming in the past few years. Patricia first joined IAC at the 2023 IAC Annual Conference, where our partnership began.

Photos shared by Patricia Mabin, the co-founder and CEO of Pemmican Patty Food Company

2024 was an adventurous year for Pemmican Patty and her travels with the AIF team. In May, she joined AIF to showcase her products at the renowned National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, IL. The trade show gathered thousands of producers and attendees, where Patricia made meaningful connections and showcased her unique products. She happily stood among them, telling her family’s story and sharing samples of pemmican bars.

Photos and video of Patricia and team at the 2024 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, IL.

Following the excitement in Chicago, Patricia’s journey continued at the 2024 Annual Conference, where her signature BisonBerry Blend Bars graced the tables throughout the event. We’re sure some bars traveled home with attendees and IAC staff as snacks for later. Each year during our annual conference, IAC hosts a national trade show for producers to showcase their “Made/Produced by American Indians” trademark products. The conference also features the American Indian Foods luncheon prepared each year by a different Native chef with ingredients sourced from agricultural producers across Indian Country. We’re so excited to see where Pemmican Patty’s travels and business ventures take her in 2025. Patricia shared with us that she has a new meat bar flavor launching soon!

Photos from our 2024 Annual Conference featuring Chef Elena Terry (Ho-Chunk Nation), pictured in the center and right.

Last month, we had the pleasure of interviewing Patricia, where she shared more about her life story, her connection to IAC and a behind-the-scenes look at her business operations. Read on for her thoughtful responses below.

Q: Can you tell us about your day-to-day role as CEO?

Patricia: I work remotely as a “hands on” CEO. My day usually begins with a cup of coffee answering emails requesting wholesale information, event participation and requests such as these. I receive, fulfill, ship and invoice every order, both online and wholesale. Partnership with my brother, Mike, provides support with marketing material and website/social media content. Each day brings new “adventures”.

Q: Can you discuss how assistance from the Intertribal Agriculture Council is important for your work?

Patricia: IAC’s American Indian Foods program has offered me the kind of exposure that I would never have had without their support. They sponsored my first experience at the IAC Annual Conference in 2023 and the National Restaurant Conference in 2024. The Annual Conference in 2024 afforded me the opportunity to share the experience with my granddaughter and introduce her to the IAC opportunities.

Q: What do you feel is a region-specific issue or barrier that you see for Native producers?

Patricia: As a meat producer, our region suffers a lack of 2nd and 3rd tier manufacturers for shelf-stable, USDA approved products able to be offered on a large scale.

Q: What advice would you give to women working in agriculture? How would you like to see them connect with this work?

Patricia: Women have always been stewards of this earth – we belong working in agriculture. We are able to bring a nurturing, protective view to the table that supports conservation & sustainability.

Q: How do you balance the values of food sovereignty with the economic and environmental challenges of modern agriculture?

Patricia: The product we began with is nothing like the product we are marketing today. The highly regulated food industry along with the labeling inconsistencies held our production back by over two years. What I’m trying to say is that traditional foods (juneberries vs blueberries) are not always able to compete with modern agriculture. Clean, healthy ingredients and foods are notoriously higher priced, restricting businesses like ours from mainstream markets. We have to move into specialized markets that are even harder to enter.

Q: What do you envision for the future of your business?

Patricia: Pemmican Patty has always been about preserving, protecting and promoting our culture and heritage. Our goal has been to reverse the impact of generations of poor nutrition by providing a culturally relevant product based on traditional ingredients. We hope to continue to make a positive impact on the health of generations to come.

Q: Any closing thoughts to share about IAC and what the organization's programs and initiatives mean to you as a producer?

Patricia: My involvement & experiences with IAC have helped me to learn about Indigenous culture, foodways, nutrition and collaboration. Knowing that they are always available to answer questions or find someone that can help has made an enormous difference in the success of my business.

Are you a certified “Made/Produced By American Indians” trademark user and wish to share your story with IAC? Our Communications team is always looking to capture and share your stories! Please contact us at info@indianag.org to connect.

Find out if your business qualifies for the trademark on the IAC website!