For Sean Sherman, 2023 marks a milestone: a decade into his journey to revitalize Native American foodways. The world is rightfully applauding the Oglala Lakota chef as a leader of the Native American renaissance we’re currently witnessing—and in turn showering him with accolades and attention. All the acclaim is well-deserved of course, but this has never been about recognition. Rather, it’s all about representation.
When he and co-owner Dana Thompson opened Owamni in Minneapolis in 2021, it debuted to great fanfare as one of the nation’s first full-service Native American restaurants. That year, it was named one of ’ 50 best restaurants. also dubbed it one of the Best New Restaurants in America and crowned Sherman Chef of the Year. Then in 2022, Owamni snagged the coveted James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant (adding to Sherman’s two previous Beards, including a 2019 leadership award). And earlier this year, Sherman was named one of ’s 100 Most Influential People of 2023. Suffice it to
