A new restaurant from the owner of Owamni opened Tuesday at the Guthrie Theater to much excitement.
Indígena has more than twice the space of the former Owamni space, and features food from local and national Indigenous producers. It's a natural progression for Owamni, which received top honors, winning the prestigious James Beard Award for the best new restaurant in the nation in 2022.
Many of the ingredients used date back to pre-colonization times, meaning it's 100% authentic to the area.
“Indígena is derived from the Spanish word for Indigenous, sharing the Latin root Indigenae, meaning ‘born of the land,’” says chef and owner Sean Sherman. “While English and Spanish are colonial languages, they are also bridge languages that allow Indigenous communities across Turtle Island to connect, exchange knowledge and share culinary traditions.”
Hanwakan Blaike Whitecloud and his wife Tessa, who are also big fans of Owamni, have returned from Winnipeg to experience this cultural dining experience, with Whitecloud saying it smelled like his grandmother's house.
"There was pawpaw, which is a deciduous fruit that grows along the northeastern part of North America, which is like a cross between a mango and a pineapple," says Whitecloud. "And they made a custard out of it for a dessert. And we were like, OK, A, didn't know this existed, but B, this is super delicious, right?" So learning about the history of North America, but through food."
The space at The Guthrie, which sat empty since the COVID-19 pandemic and formerly housed Sea Change, is more than two times larger than Owamni which was located just a little further upriver from the Guthrie along West River Parkway.
The goal is to create storytelling through food showcasing Indigenous foods through decolonized cuisine.
"Especially like my background being First Nations, and Dakota specifically in Canada, and I work for a First Nations organization, like right away I'm going take a picture of the menu and text it to my fellow employees back home," Whitecloud said. "And be like, 'yo, this is what like food sovereignty looks like in action.'"
Not only is the food authentic, but the bar uses Indigenous ingredients for cocktails as well. And because it is located inside the Guthrie Theater, they will also introduce a pre-theater menu tailored for guests dining before performances, as well as post-show drinks and bar food service.
Reservations will be available via OpenTable, and if it's anything like Owamni was, you'll want to make sure you plan ahead for seating.
Indígena by Owamni will offer:
- An expanded menu offering steaks, and larger game cuts such as bison, elk, and venison
- A full oyster bar and expanded seafood offerings highlighting the Indigenous diaspora
- A comprehensive bar program specializing in BIPOC-produced beer, wine, and spirits, alongside inventive cocktails and mocktails
- Continued shareable plates and tapas-style service
- A new Chef’s Table—seating 12 to 16 guests—for curated tasting menus, coursed dinners, and guest chef residencies.
