Sean Sherman: Why aren't there more Native American restaurants? | TED

Summary

Sean Sherman, a chef from Pine Ridge, South Dakota, discusses the importance of Native American food and the absence of Indigenous cuisine in modern society. He shares his journey of rediscovering precolonial foods and the impact of colonialism on Indigenous diets, advocating for a return to traditional, diverse, and sustainable Indigenous foods as a means to improve health and reconnect with the land.

Takeaways

• 🍴 Sean Sherman is a chef who founded The Sioux Chef in 2014 to focus on Native American food and educate others about Indigenous cuisine.
• 🌱 Sherman grew up in South Dakota and had a long career in restaurants, which led him to realize the absence of Indigenous foods in contemporary cuisine.
• 🔍 He embarked on a journey to understand what happened to Native American foods, which were largely erased due to colonization and the subsequent loss of Indigenous knowledge and practices.
• 🏠 Sherman emphasizes the importance of knowing and respecting the Indigenous history of the land, as North America's history begins with Indigenous peoples.
• 🍽 The lack of Native American restaurants in the US, despite the country's rich food culture, highlights the need to recognize and revive Indigenous food traditions.
• 📚 Understanding the history of colonialism is crucial to comprehend the erasure of Indigenous foods and the impact it had on Indigenous communities.
• 🏞️ The destruction of Indigenous food systems began with policies like the Indian Removal Act and the Dawes Act, which aimed to assimilate Indigenous peoples and take away their land and resources.
• 🐃 The systematic destruction of the bison population is an example of how the US government targeted the food sources of Indigenous peoples to weaken their communities.
• 🏫 The boarding school system was a tool of assimilation that stripped Indigenous children of their cultural knowledge, including food practices and plant identification.
• 🌾 Indigenous agriculture and knowledge of local plants and animals are essential to rebuilding a connection with the land and promoting health and sustainability.
• 🌍 Sherman calls for a global recognition and celebration of Indigenous knowledge and practices, which are vital for environmental protection and cultural diversity.

Q & A

Who is Sean Sherman and what is his profession?

Sean Sherman is a chef who focuses on Native American food and is the founder of The Sioux Chef, a company established in 2014.

What is the significance of the term 'The Sioux Chef'?

The term 'The Sioux Chef' is a play on words, representing Sean Sherman's Sioux heritage and his professional role as a chef.

Why did Sean Sherman start his journey into Native American food?

Sean Sherman started his journey into Native American food after realizing the absence of Indigenous foods in his career as a chef and not being able to name many authentic Lakota recipes.

What does Sean Sherman believe is the importance of understanding Indigenous foods?

Sean Sherman believes that understanding Indigenous foods is important because it is tied to the history and land of North America, and it could benefit everyone in the future.

Why are there no Native American restaurants focused on the land they are on, according to Sean Sherman?

According to Sean Sherman, there are no Native American restaurants focused on the land they are on because of historical trauma and the lack of time for Indigenous communities to heal and evolve in the food industry.

What does Sean Sherman suggest is the first step in understanding Indigenous foods?

The first step in understanding Indigenous foods, according to Sean Sherman, is understanding what precontact or precolonial foods were, which requires understanding colonialism itself.

What historical policy did Sean Sherman mention that impacted Indigenous peoples in the United States?

Sean Sherman mentioned the Indian Removal Act of 1830, the Homestead Act of 1862, and the Dawes Act of 1887 as historical policies that impacted Indigenous peoples in the United States.

How did the boarding school system affect the传承 of Indigenous knowledge and food practices?

The boarding school system stripped a whole generation of Indigenous knowledge and food practices through intense assimilation, forcing children to abandon their traditional ways and learn new, unrelated skills.

What is the significance of the term 'Indigenous education' in Sean Sherman's talk?

In Sean Sherman's talk, 'Indigenous education' refers to a comprehensive study of traditional practices including wild food knowledge, native agriculture, seed saving, and other cultural and environmental aspects that are crucial for preserving Indigenous heritage.

What are some examples of Indigenous foods that Sean Sherman mentioned?

Examples of Indigenous foods mentioned by Sean Sherman include prairie turnips, camas root, wild rice, and seaweed, emphasizing the diversity and health benefits of these traditional foods.

What is Sean Sherman's vision for the future of Indigenous foods in America?

Sean Sherman's vision is for Indigenous foods to be celebrated and integrated into mainstream diets, with Native American food restaurants run by Indigenous peoples across the nation, promoting health, diversity, and a connection to the land.