Shara Cooper MA, MFA Shara Cooper MA, MFA

Saskatchewan’s Heartland Harvest

The cast-iron pan sizzles as golden rounds of bannock puff and crackle over an open fire. Around the flames, elders trade stories while children sneak handfuls of wild saskatoon berries from a nearby bowl.

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Shara Cooper MA, MFA Shara Cooper MA, MFA

Local Food Sources and Vegetable Cultivation in Greenland

Greenland’s extreme Arctic climate presents formidable challenges for agriculture, yet recent innovations in greenhouse technology and small-scale farming are demonstrating that locally grown vegetables can become a viable food source.

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Shara Cooper MA, MFA Shara Cooper MA, MFA

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.

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Shara Cooper MA, MFA Shara Cooper MA, MFA

The Evolution of Greenlandic Gastronomy

Greenland’s culinary landscape is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. Rooted in Inuit food traditions that have sustained communities for centuries, Greenlandic cuisine is now being reimagined through modern culinary techniques and global influences. This evolution is driven by a growing interest in sustainability, cultural identity, and the need to adapt to a changing environment. As the world looks northward for new culinary experiences, Greenland is embracing innovation while fiercely preserving the essence of its traditional food culture.

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Shara Cooper MA, MFA Shara Cooper MA, MFA

Wild Food in Greenland

In August 2011, plants appeared on tables in Qassiarsuk and Nanortalik. Some had been dried and stored for personal use. Others had been gathered fresh before researchers arrived to ask residents what grew nearby, what it was called, and how it entered household life.

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Shara Cooper MA, MFA Shara Cooper MA, MFA

Seaweed in Greenlandic Cuisine

In Greenland’s harsh Arctic environment, where traditional agriculture is nearly impossible, the ocean has always been the primary source of nourishment. Fish, seal, whale, and other marine resources have long sustained Greenlandic communities, but one ingredient remains underappreciated despite its abundance and immense nutritional value: seaweed.

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Shara Cooper MA, MFA Shara Cooper MA, MFA

Reviving Inuit Throat Singing

The Arctic is alive with sound: the wind across the tundra, the cry of migrating birds, and the resonant voice of Inuit throat singing, or Katajjaq. For generations, Inuit women have engaged in this practice, exchanging breath and sound in a playful yet demanding competition.

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Sandra Nomoto Sandra Nomoto

You Had Me at Ube

As a child, I had a hard time eating. I had to eat, but I didn’t like it, except for sweets.

Breakfast and lunch were easy.

In elementary school, lunch was always sandwiches. Usually deli meat, but sometimes liver spread, or (bonus) peanut butter and jam or Nutella. Once, I almost choked on a piece of ham in sixth grade because it was so big and my dad hadn’t cut the fat off. 

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Shara Cooper MA, MFA Shara Cooper MA, MFA

Sprouting Seeds

Growing your own sprouts and microgreens at home is not only rewarding but also cost-effective. With minimal investment, you can enjoy fresh, nutrient-rich foods right from your kitchen. You can often sacrifice a small table or section of countertop to keep yourself fresh in greens. 

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Shara Cooper MA, MFA Shara Cooper MA, MFA

Book Review: Rooted by Lyanda Lynn Haupt

Lyanda Lynn Haupt’s Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit is a profoundly moving meditation on our relationship with the natural world. With a blend of lyrical prose, ecological insight, and personal reflection, Haupt offers readers a vision of a life grounded — both literally and metaphorically — in the rhythms of the Earth.

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Shara Cooper MA, MFA Shara Cooper MA, MFA

Book Review: The Place of Tides by James Rebanks

James Rebanks’ The Place of Tides is an evocative journey into the rugged beauty of Norway’s coastal landscapes, interwoven with themes of solitude, renewal, and humanity’s deep relationship with nature.

Best known for his chronicles of life as a shepherd in the Lake District, Rebanks ventures further afield in this book, immersing himself in the rhythms of an island and its eider ducks. Yet, the heart of the book is unmistakably Rebanks: a thoughtful and deeply personal meditation on how the land shapes us and how we, in turn, shape it.

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Shara Cooper MA, MFA Shara Cooper MA, MFA

Book Review: Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake

Merlin Sheldrake’s Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds, and Shape Our Futures is an engaging exploration of an often-overlooked kingdom that underpins the very fabric of life on Earth.

With a rare combination of scientific rigor and literary grace, Sheldrake unveils the fascinating roles fungi play in ecosystems, economies, and even human consciousness. This book is not just a study of fungi but an invitation to reconsider our understanding of life itself.

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Shara Cooper MA, MFA Shara Cooper MA, MFA

Book Review: The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer

In The Serviceberry: An Economy of Abundance, Robin Wall Kimmerer offers a profoundly insightful exploration of how the principles of reciprocity and generosity — so deeply embedded in the natural world — can inspire a reimagining of our human economies.

Through her characteristic blend of scientific inquiry, indigenous wisdom, and lyrical storytelling, Kimmerer weaves together a vision of abundance that directly challenges the scarcity-driven narratives underpinning modern capitalism.

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Shara Cooper MA, MFA Shara Cooper MA, MFA

Rewilding for the Planet and Self

Imagine stepping into a forest where the air hums with life.

Birds call from hidden perches, and wildflowers carpet the forest floor, each petal catching the sun.

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Maria A. Karamitsos Maria A. Karamitsos

Family, Cookies, and Boozy Memories

Scents, flavours, even songs evoke memories and transport us to another time and place.

Over the years, we’ve all gotten so busy, leaving little time to cook or bake, to celebrate family traditions. But we need those rituals, the familiar scents and flavors. They take us back.

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Shara Cooper MA, MFA Shara Cooper MA, MFA

The Role of Local Ingredients in Sustainable Culinary Practices

West African cuisine, known for its bold flavors, vibrant colors, and rich cultural heritage, is deeply rooted in the use of local ingredients.

As global food systems face significant environmental and social challenges, West Africa’s reliance on indigenous, seasonal, and locally sourced foods offers valuable lessons in sustainability and cultural preservation.

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Shara Cooper MA, MFA Shara Cooper MA, MFA

The History and Cultural Significance of Bannock in Canada

Bannock, a traditional bread with a rich and diverse history, has long been an essential part of both Indigenous and settler cultures in Canada. Its origins, evolution, and continued significance in modern times make it a vital element of Canadian food history. This simple yet versatile bread, made with a combination of flour, fat, and water, represents a fusion of Indigenous food traditions and European influences.

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Shara Cooper MA, MFA Shara Cooper MA, MFA

The History and Cultural Significance of Pemmican in Canada

Pemmican is a traditional Indigenous food with deep roots in Canadian history. Known for its long shelf life, portability, and high nutritional value, pemmican played an essential role in the survival and success of both Indigenous and European communities across North America. Originally made by Indigenous tribes, particularly on the Plains and prairies, pemmican combined dried meat, fat, and sometimes berries, offering a high-energy, protein-rich food.

It quickly became a staple food in the fur trade era, gaining recognition and economic importance.

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Shara Cooper MA, MFA Shara Cooper MA, MFA

The History of Métis Cuisine in Canada

Métis cuisine in Canada is a unique and dynamic food tradition that reflects the cultural heritage and history of the Métis people.

Known for their blended Indigenous and European ancestry, the Métis primarily reside in Canada’s Prairie provinces and have contributed distinctively to the nation’s culinary landscape.

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