How to Be a Better Human How to Eat with Awareness and Purpose (w/ Sean Sherman)
21 snips
Nov 24, 2025 Sean Sherman, Sioux chef and founder of Natives, shares his mission to reclaim Indigenous food sovereignty through his award-winning restaurant, Owamni. He discusses the removal of colonial ingredients and highlights the importance of local, seasonal foods. Sean explores the educational gaps in understanding Indigenous diets and emphasizes food as a means of storytelling and cultural preservation. He advocates for the empowerment of tribes through food sovereignty and reflects on the resurgence of Native representation in food and culture.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Recenter Food By Removing Colonial Ingredients
- Sean Sherman removes colonial ingredients to reveal Indigenous food systems and flavors.
- This approach reframes what 'American' cuisine can be by centering pre-contact ingredients and producers.
Direct Food Dollars To Indigenous Producers
- Prioritize purchasing from indigenous producers first to direct food dollars intentionally.
- Use restaurant spending to invest in local communities and grow indigenous food economies.
Seasonal Menus As Cultural Storytelling
- Sean Sherman uses seasonal cycles (solstices and equinoxes) to rotate menus and tell food stories.
- Changing menus by season teaches regionality, wild sourcing, and cultural context through tasting.
