Indigenous Chefs and Raye Zaragoza Take the Guthrie Stage: EATSS Returns to Minneapolis to Support Native Scholars

A performer dances in regalia during EATSS, where Indigenous chefs, artists, and performers come together to support Native students pursuing higher education.

An evening of Indigenous food, art, and music on December 1 supports the next generation of Native college students

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, UNITED STATES, October 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- On Tuesday, December 1, Giving Tuesday, the American Indian College Fund brings EATSS back to the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, in a state originally home to more than 25 nations and steeped in American Indian roots. The evening opens with a multi-course dinner from Indigenous chefs at Indígena by Owamni, the restaurant inside the Guthrie, and closes with Native art and a concert by singer-songwriter Raye Zaragoza on the Wurtele Thrust Stage, all in support of Native students pursuing higher education.

What is EATSS?
EATSS brings together Indigenous food, art, and music to support Native students in higher education. Past EATSS events have been featured by The New York Times, Native News Online, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and Colorado Public Radio.

Why is this work urgent right now?
Native students continue to face significant barriers in higher education. Only 17% of American Indian and Alaska Native students hold a college degree, compared to roughly 40% of the general population (American Indian College Fund, IPEDS and NCES).

"It will be a special evening shared with friends, family, and supporters who believe in the promise and potential of Native students. At the heart of the evening is something even more meaningful: supporting scholarships and opportunities that help Native students pursue higher education and build brighter futures." Cheryl Crazy Bull, President and CEO, American Indian College Fund

What kind of impact does this support have?
The College Fund provides more than $23 million annually in scholarships and student support. Since its founding:
- 150,600 Native students served
- More than $208 million invested
- 93 percent of scholars give back to their communities

Who are the students behind this impact?
College Fund scholars Brian (Red Lake Band of the Chippewa Indians), a psychology student at Red Lake Nation College, and Daniela (Standing Rock Lakota Sioux Tribe), an MBA student at Sitting Bull College, will attend as student ambassadors.

"The whole reason for me to come to school was to get my language and cultural teaching certificate so I could come back to the school district and write the curriculum for them," Brian said. "That's how I see my future: my kids speaking the language and their kids speaking the language."

What can attendees expect at the Twin Cities event?
The College Fund is proud to partner with Indígena by Owamni, the acclaimed Minneapolis restaurant founded by Chef Sean Sherman, whose work centers on Indigenous foods and foodways.

Featured chefs include:
- Crystal Wahpepah (Kickapoo Nation of Oklahoma): Owner and executive chef of Wahpepah's Kitchen in Oakland and a James Beard Emerging Chef finalist, the first Native chef on Chopped, and author of this year's cookbook A Feather and a Fork
- Nathan Davis (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa): Le Cordon Bleu-educated founder of A'Wiisinin Food Truck
- Anthony Bauer (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa): Owner of Traditional Fire Custom Cuisine
- Andrea Condes (Andean, Venezuela): Culinary Institute of America-trained founder of Four Directions Cuisine in Arvada, Colorado

Who is performing?
Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Raye Zaragoza creates music shaped by identity, justice, community, and connection. Of mixed Indigenous, Asian, and Latina heritage, Zaragoza first gained widespread recognition with "In the River," her response to the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. She has performed on NPR's Tiny Desk, toured nationally, appeared in the reimagined Broadway production of Peter Pan, and writes songs for Netflix's animated series Spirit Rangers.

Why bring this event to the Twin Cities?
The Twin Cities are home to a vibrant Native food and culture community, and the Guthrie has hosted EATSS before, including evenings with the Indigo Girls in 2023 and Rufus Wainwright in 2025.

How can people attend?
Date: Tuesday, December 1, 2026
Schedule: Doors 5:30 p.m. | Program 7:30 p.m. | Concert 8:00 p.m.
Location: Guthrie Theater, 818 South 2nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415

Tickets: $155 EATSS + concert | $35 concert only. 100% of ticket sales benefit the American Indian College Fund

College Fund media contact: Dina Horwedel, dhorwedel@collegefund.org

About the American Indian College Fund
The American Indian College Fund is the nation's largest charity supporting Native higher education, providing scholarships and support services that help Native students access and complete college while strengthening communities nationwide.

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