There’s so much more to Indigenous cuisine than bannock – although admittedly, the oft-cited bread is a delicious entry point to exploring the rich and diverse culinary traditions of this country’s first peoples. Indigenous chefs, food producers and co-operatives across the country are quickly growing audiences for traditional ingredients and recipes that showcase their heritage, their artistry in the kitchen and the diversity of the landscape. Here are just a few of the exciting options to explore.
Kikawinaw
The Standout: Sparkling Gin and Tea
Sisters Carrie and Kelly Armstrong developed the recipe for Kikawinaw’s spiked tea by drawing inspiration from their grandmother’s tea recipe and her Metis tradition of using locally foraged ingredients that have medicinal benefits. The base, a berry tea made with Alberta ingredients, is mixed with Wildrose Gin from Rig Hand Craft Distillery, birch syrup and lemon juice, making for a satisfyingly crisp sip.
kikawinaw.ca
Kaapittiaq
The Standout: Qajaq Kaapia
Kaapittiaq coffee is the first product for sale from Inuinnait social enterprise Pitquhikhainik Ilihainiq, a non-profit that aims to empower Indigenous communities in Nunavut. Beans are sourced from Indigenous and female farmers around the world. On offer is a range of roasts – light, medium, dark and espresso – and each is named after an icon of the culture. The dark, for instance, is called Qajaq, the Inuinnaqtun word for “kayak,” and the espresso is called Iglu.
kaapittiaq.ca
Boreal Heartland
The Standout: Alder Pepper seasoning
All products by Boreal Heartland are made with ingredients like chanterelles, juniper berries and spruce tips that are hand-picked in northern Saskatchewan and showcase the flavours of the boreal forest. The Alder Pepper seasoning pairs well with chicken, pork, beef and wild game as well as rice thanks to an infusion of pine and pepper flavours.
borealheartland.ca
Raven Rising
The Standout: Ruby and dark chocolates
Based in Sudbury, Ont., pastry chef Tammy Maki, Saulteaux Ojibwe from White Bear First Nation in Saskatchewan, doesn’t just make chocolate at Raven Rising; she makes art. Her bars are like canvases on which she paints with ingredients (think white chocolate, roses, edible gold and more) to add a medley of notes to her bars. The stunning Ruby bar is made with Callebaut ruby chocolate, which has a berry-red hue to it, and is hand-decorated with white-chocolate flowers, candied mint, rose and violet.
ravenrising.ca
Secret Cove Brewing Co.
The Standout: James Blonde 00709
Situated on the west coast of Newfoundland in Port au Port, Secret Cove Brewing Co. is an indie craft brewery that makes over a dozen varieties of beer. Its flagship, the James Blonde 00709 ale, won a gold medal at the 2023 Canadian Brewing Awards and has an inviting, round, clean and refreshing taste that is great for those who are new to craft beers and curious about the local Newfoundland scene.
secretcovebrewing.com
Wigwam
The Standout: Poissons (Fish)
Chef Maxime Lizotte finds inspiration in his Maliseet of Viger First Nation roots when coming up with his culinary creations, using wild plants from Quebec while also experimenting with fermentation techniques. His Wigwam Poissons seasoning blend includes organic maple flakes, gorria pepper, agastache flowers and sea-buckthorn pulp and works on everything from salmon to cod and even scallops.
