WEEKEND: DAY ONE - SECTION TWO
Updated: Aug 17
INDIGENA:
A DECOLONIZED DINNER
RECOMMENDED TIME WINDOWS: SCENARIO 1 (7pm Show): 4:30pm - 6:30pm
SCENARIO 2 (8pm Show): 5:30pm - 7:30pm
SCENARIO 3 (9pm/9:30pm Show): 7:00pm - 9:00pm
RESERVATIONS EXTREMELY RECOMMENDED
From our position along the river, having finished the Saint Anthony Falls historical tour, bear with me for just a few more moments. I’d like to introduce and set the scene for the next portion of our epic Weekend Experience. Then I’d like to get out of the way. The History Tour’s over. It’s time I fall back into the shadows and let you explore dinner for yourselves.
Indigena by Owamni (pronounced In-dih-hen-ah) opened on July 4, 2026. It is the next phase in the evolution of Sean Sherman, James Beard Award-winning Oglala Lakota Sioux chef. He founded the Indigenous Food Lab, a catering service called The Sioux Chef, and the nonprofit North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS). He also won the 2018 James Beard Award for Best American Cookbook, “The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen”.
In 2021, he opened Owamni, nestled in an old park service building that we passed right as we started the preceding historical tour, which also won the 2022 James Beard Best New Restaurant award. Sherman’s philosophy was especially brought to life in this first restaurant iteration, which encompasses rejecting values “upheld by settler colonialism, such as the wanton destruction of environment, including mining, logging, and monoculture agriculture, all of which contribute to the enrichment of a select few while beautiful Indigenous landscapes and the people who have traditionally lived on them are continually abused.” (owamni.com)
“The goal of this restaurant is to showcase modern Indigenous foods . . . We have cut out colonial ingredients such as beef, pork, chicken, dairy, wheat flour and cane sugar, instead highlighting true agricultural products of North America, such as corn, beans, squash, wild game, birds, fish and Native plants.”
“This approach offers a different story of American cooking than the Eurocentric one that is traditionally touted - instead celebrating the amazing Indigenous diversity of Turtle Island.” (Turtle Island is a name used by some Indigenous peoples to refer to Earth or North America)
Sherman also emphasizes that he’s not trying to take diners back to the 1400’s with his ingredients and menus. He’s trying to modernize and evolve Indigenous cuisine for today and tomorrow.
Now, having moved from the original space to Indigena in the Guthrie Theater building, he’s not merely focusing on food that would be found in Mni Sota Makoce (Minnesota), but ALL of the Americas (North, Central and South).
For me, Sean Sherman’s vision has always been an open invitation for my wife and I, as white settler descendants, to really dive into Indigenous cultures through the aspect of food. We find ourselves coming back to his restaurants and products again and again. Indigena is my favorite restaurant in all of the Twin Cities, not only because of the poignant and eye opening mission, but because the food is amazing!! It’s unique, made with care, and unforgettable.
I really hope the next couple of hours gives you even an iota of how I feel when I’m in Sherman’s realm. What he’s created is something truly special in the culinary world.
With that, let’s head to Indigena.
A to B
Walk down to the end of the pathway and turn left on the Great River Rd.
Cross Portland Avenue and continue on this quasi-wooden plank road past the mill ruins.
At the end of the row of old silos, we’ll encounter a stairway leading up to the asymmetrical sewing machine building, the Guthrie Theater. Take the stairs up to the plaza and walk around to the front of the Theater on 2nd St.
Indigena is on the left upon entering the building.
INDIGENA BY OWAMNI
S1: 4:45pm - 6:30pm
S2: 5:45pm - 7:30pm
S3: 7:15pm - 9:00pm
We should have reservations for either 4:45pm, 5:45pm or 7:15pm, depending on when your First Avenue show is.
Enjoy your meal! You’re in for an unforgettable treat!
I’ll see you again once when you’ve finished dinner (S1: 6:30pm, S2: 7:30pm, or S3: 9:00pm)!!
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