Honoring our ancestors through nutrition and sustainability
The Modern Indigenous reimagines Native American cuisine in a modern-day context. We believe deeply in nourishing the community using precolonial ingredients with vibrant flavors. From simple community buffets to curated, multi-course high-level dinners, our team organizes culinary experiences throughout the world that:
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showcase de-colonized ingredients
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revive ancestral food traditions and practices
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promote health, wellness, and sustainability
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educate people on the rich heritage of tribal communities
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raise awareness of the economic and health crises affecting Native communities
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revitalize and restore indigenous culture and food sovereignty
All of our menus are inspired and curated by Dana Thompson's Dakota heritage and are free of colonized ingredients (wheat, flour, dairy, refined sugars) as these ingredients did not exist on this land before colonization.
Our Offerings
From a simple community buffet to a curated, multi-course high-level dinner, The Modern Indigenous team can create the experience of a lifetime. These extraordinary dinners are free of the colonized ingredients of wheat flour, dairy and refined sugars.
Community Dinners
Experience the smells, the feel, and the taste of inspired dishes born from Dana's Dakota heritage.
Cooking Demos
By sharing her story and expertise in food sovereignty, equity and access, Dana brings powerful storytelling and motivational insights to leadership events and industry conferences.
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Education & Speaking Engagements
Dana pushes the boundaries of their roots in a way that captivates those who have the privilege of tasting their immersive menus.
Private Curated Dinner Events
About Dana thompson
A lineal descendant of the Sisseton-Wahpeton and Mdewakanton Dakota tribes and lifetime Minnesota native, Dana Thompson has worked for nearly a decade on the front lines of the food sovereignty movement. She has engaged extensively throughout tribal communities, promoting critical ways to improve food access and implementing strategies to do the most possible good as a social entrepreneur.
In July 2021, Dana co-founded Owamni, Minnesota’s first full-service Indigenous restaurant. Owamni received the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in the U.S. in June 2022. Dana also co-founded the nonprofit NĀTIFS (North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems).
In 2023, she separated from those businesses to launch The Modern Indigenous and Heti, a THC and CBD-infused seltzer water designed to transport you to a place of nature, honoring our plant relatives. A percentage of Heti’s revenue is dedicated to developing sustainable housing Heti is also using a percentage of revenue to develop sustainable housing for Indigenous community members. Thompson also serves on the board of directors of Owamniyomni Okhodayapi (formerly Friends of the Falls) where she has an active voice in protecting Owámniyomni and Wíta Wanáǧi and recognizing these historical sites as cultural treasures to the Dakota people.
An accomplished songwriter and guitarist, Dana was a founding member and lead singer with Strawdogs, Hot Head Fiasco, The Minor Planets as well as two critically acclaimed solo records. Dana has released seven albums as a working musician and producer throughout much of her life.
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Contact Us
Please contact Dana Thompson at dana@danathompsonconsulting.com with questions, or complete the form below.