Ucross residency helps Brendan Basham reconnect with food, art
Courtesy | Ucross Foundation
Brendan Basham, Diné writer, artist, and chef from the Zuni Mountains, prepares a dish during his stay at Ucross Foundation in Wyoming. The foundation announced him on Oct. 6 as the inaugural recipient of its new culinary residency on its 20,000-acre ranch.
By Kyle Leslie
Navajo Times
GALLUP
The kitchen has always been a place of story for Brendan Basham, a space where flavor, memory and culture meet.
This summer, as the Ucross Foundation’s first Native American and first culinary resident, the writer and chef returned to the rhythm of cooking to reconnect with art, community and the reasons he began creating in the first place.
Basham is Tótsohnii and born for Bit’ahnii. His cheii is Bilagaana and his nálí is Bilagaana. He was born in Alaska and raised in northern Arizona. His interest in art began early.
To read the full article, please see the Nov. 20, 2025, edition of the Navajo Times.
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