Seasonal Eating in Edmonton Winter
Winter in Edmonton is long and decisive. Snow settles early and remains for months. Daylight shortens. Temperatures drop well below freezing, and the ground becomes inaccessible for much of the year. These conditions shape daily life in ways that are both practical and familiar.
The Rise of Indigenous Superfoods
Canada’s food history is rooted in ingredients that grew, swam, or roamed freely across this land. Long before refined wheat and industrial farming arrived, Indigenous communities sustained themselves with nutrient-rich staples harvested in tune with seasonal cycles. These were the original examples of sustainable cooking and ancestral cooking methods — systems where food, ecology, and community were inseparable.
Beyond the Barbecue
Every Canada Day, backyards across the country fill with the familiar scents of grilled meat, corn on the cob, fresh berries, and maple desserts. It feels like a timeless Canadian tradition.
But the foods that appear on those picnic tables tell a much older story.
Northern Flavours
Smoke curls lazily from the stovepipe of a log cabin tucked into the spruce-lined banks of the Nagwichoonjik (Mackenzie River). Inside, the air is thick with the scent of juniper and freshly caught arctic char simmering over the fire. A cast-iron pan crackles as bannock browns to a golden crisp, its dough flecked with wild herbs gathered from the forest floor. It’s not just a meal—it’s memory, survival, and ceremony passed down through generations.
Indigenous Food Preservation Techniques
Throughout history, Indigenous cultures around the globe have developed innovative food preservation techniques that not only ensure sustenance during lean times but also reflect their deep understanding of the environment.
Drying, smoking, and fermenting are three ancient methods that have allowed Indigenous peoples to maximize their food resources, maintain nutritional value, and create distinctive flavors.
Reviving Indigenous Food Sovereignty
Bringing back Indigenous food systems helps everyone, especially Indigenous communities gain food security and build culture and community.
The Importance of the Day of National Truth and Reconciliation
Understanding Indigenous history and making efforts to decolonize mindsets is something that Shara — the creator of Recipes & Roots — and her family feels strongly about. Often, decolonizing and indigenizing goes hand-in-hand with reconciliation.
The Connection Between Decolonization, Indigenization, and Sustainability
The concepts of decolonization, indigenization, and sustainability are interconnected through their shared goals of addressing historical injustices, respecting Indigenous knowledge, and promoting environmental stewardship.
Traditional Indigenous Foods in Canada
Traditional Indigenous foods in Canada form an integral part of the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. Scroll to the end for some Indigenous chefs to follow.