Food is Medicine at Owamni

Details

With over 20 different plants featured on the menu, guests will have the opportunity to explore a variety of ingredients and their healing benefits, including:

• Yarrow: Yarrow is a fantastic wound healer. The Dakota name, “taopi pezhuta,” translates to “wound medicine.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, Black Elk and her family gifted yarrow to communities because of its ability to heal wounds, especially in the lungs. Yarrow is a delicious edible plant, with flowers and leaves that have a flavor reminiscent of cedar and mint.
• Bee Balm: This mint family member is powerfully antimicrobial. Black Elk adds bee balm to teas, poultices, and tinctures for bacterial and viral infections. The flowers and leaves have a flavor similar to oregano and are often added to soups, stews, and sauces for flavor and medicinal benefits.
• Dock: Curly dock, also known as “yellow dock,” is a common Native plant. Its root is used in tea mixtures for liver and kidney ailments. Dock seeds can be ground into flour to make crispy, tasty crackers and breads. The leaves have a lemony flavor that is comforting and revitalizing in soups, casseroles, and salads.

Guests will receive a special take-home plant book from Linda Black Elk, detailing the traditional plants used throughout the dinner and their healing benefits.

Support our team’s journey to Terra Madre by participating in our raffle! Terra Madre is a global Slow Food movement promoting sustainable food systems that benefit people, farmers, and the planet. This movement began in Rome, Italy, in 1986 as a response to the rise of fast food and continues to champion healthy, sustainable food practices.

At Owamni, we offer a decolonized dining experience, showcasing the true flavors of North America by prioritizing Indigenous food producers locally and nationally, and removing colonial ingredients like wheat flour, cane sugar, and dairy. NATIFS, our nonprofit sector, addresses economic and health crises in Native communities by re-establishing Native foodways. Together, we aim to create a new North American food system that generates wealth and improves health through food-related enterprises.

Terra Madre’s focus on sustainable, small-scale food production aligns perfectly with our mission. The funds raised from our raffle will help send our staff to Terra Madre, where they can gain knowledge, collaborate with international chefs, and bring valuable skills back to our community.

Raffle Tickets

You can purchase raffle tickets in various amounts: $5, $15, or $25. Each dollar spent earns you one raffle ticket.

The items are:

• The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen Cookbook: A signed copy of Sean Sherman’s new cookbook, set to be released later this year.
• Plant Walk with Linda Black Elk: Experience a 30-minute plant walk with Linda Black Elk, limited to 10 people per session.
• 2 Free Tickets to Owamni’s Upcoming Winter Tasting Menu in February: Don’t miss out on the chance to enjoy an extraordinary culinary experience at our highly anticipated winter tasting menu event.
• Gift Box – Indigenize Your Pantry: Each gift box, valued at $35.75, contains IFL Non-GMO Blue Cornmeal (1 lb), IFL Non-GMO Yellow Corn (1 lb), IFL Organic Pinto Beans (1 lb), Red Lake Cultivated Wild Rice (1 lb), Seka Hills Olive Oil (250ml), and The Warrior Blends Traditional Spice Blend.

When you arrive at the event, you’ll receive tickets based on your purchase amount. You can then drop your tickets into designated raffle boxes for a chance to win these exciting items.

Join us in supporting a movement that matches our commitment to decolonized ingredients and sustainable food systems. Your participation in our raffle helps us continue to promote and preserve Indigenous foodways for future generations.