- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
Potawatomi and Mexican-American Chef Stephanie “Pyet” Despain won the "Next Level Chef" competition on Wednesday night's season finale on FOX television. The 30-year-old private chef is a tribal citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.
Pyet, who specializes in Indigenous fusion food that melds both sides of her background, earned the grand prize of $250,000 and a yearlong mentorship with celebrity chef hosts Gordon Ramsay, Nyesha Arrington, and Richard Blais.
Native News Online editor Levi Rickert interviewed Pyet live on Native News Online's Facebook page on Friday, March 4 at 12 noon - EST.
Her appearance on the show helped shine a light on Indigenous cuisine and provided a boost to Despain's e-commerce business, where she sells products that play key roles in her brand of Indigenous fusion cuisine. That includes Wojapi, a traditional Native American berry sauce, which she used in winning the show’s burger challenge.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsNative News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
HUD Awards $150 Million in Competitive Housing Grants to Tribes
Over 120 Tribal Leaders Call on Biden to Grant Clemency to Leonard Peltier
Former Kickapoo Chair Banished From Tribe, Faces Federal Sex Crime Charges
Can we take a minute to talk about tribal sovereignty?
Our mission draws from the warrior spirit that has sustained Indigenous peoples for generations — the same spirit that drives us to stand guard over tribal rights through relentless investigation and fearless reporting.
Sovereignty isn't just a concept – it's the foundation of Native nations' right to govern, protect our lands, and preserve our cultures. Every story we publish strengthens tribal sovereignty.
Unlike mainstream media, we center Indigenous voices and report directly from Native communities. When we cover land rights, water protection, or tribal governance, we're not just sharing news – we're documenting our living history and defending our future.
Our journalism is powered by readers, not shareholders. If you believe in the importance of Native-led media in protecting tribal sovereignty, consider supporting our work today.
