Revitalizing Roots: Nourishing Communities through Indigenous Foodways with Chef Sean Sherman (Part One)

This week Frank is joined by Chef Sean Sherman to discuss Indigenous foodways, cultural revitalization, and building a new capitalism rooted in reciprocity. Sean shares his powerful vision for reconnecting people and communities to Native foods and food sovereignty. Sean and Frank explore innovative models for sustainable local economies that support Indigenous producers and challenge extractive capitalist practices. Tune in for an energizing conversation about the intersections of food, culture, and business and how we can come together to nourish and empower all people. About Chef Sean Sherman: A member of the Oglala Lakota tribe, Chef Sean Sherman focuses on the revitalization and evolution of Indigenous foods systems throughout North America. Through his activism and advocacy, Sean is helping to reclaim and celebrate the rich culinary heritage of Indigenous communities around the world. Sean has dedicated his career to supporting and promoting Indigenous food systems and Native food sovereignty. His goal is to make Indigenous foods more accessible to as many communities as possible through the non-profit North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NĀTIFS) and its Indigenous Food Lab professional Indigenous kitchen and training center. Working to address the economic and health crises affecting Native communities by re-establishing Native foodways, NĀTIFS imagines a new North American food system that generates wealth and improves health in Native communities through food-related enterprises. Sean’s first book, The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen, received the James Beard Award for Best American Cookbook in 2018, and he was given the 2019 Leadership Award from the James Beard Foundation. In 2021, Sean opened Minnesota’s first full service Indigenous restaurant, Owamni, which received the 2022 James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in America on top of numerous awards nationwide. Sean has just been named one of the Time 100 Most Influential People of 2023. For more visit his website seansherman.com.