Culinary event feeds Reconciliation

By Ry Clarke - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on October 1, 2022.

Herald photo by Ry Clarke Raegan First Rider and the Yellow Guns Drum Group dance and play for attendees at the Bison Stew and Fry Bread tasting this week at the Interfaith Food Bank.

Local groups working in concert held a bison stew and fry bread tasting event for Reconciliation Week in Lethbridge.

The culinary event was organized by the Family Centre in partnership with the Interfaith Food Bank, and All My Relations, and included dancing from Raegan First Rider, Ms. Blackfoot Canada Sr. Princess, along with singing and drumming from the Yellow Guns Drum Group, Jeremy Oka and Colt Tail Feathers.

“Today we wanted to join in on the Reconciliation events, by introducing people to the food and enjoy the dancing and music,” said Terri Young Pine, Indigenous program facilitator for the Family Centre. “Raegan, my niece, is a jingle dancer. I wanted to bring her and the Yellow Guns in to introduce the event and show that it is healing for everybody to come and enjoy. The dance is about healing.”

Food at the event was cooked by many helpers at the Interfaith Food Bank and Janine Jackson, Indigenous program coordinator for the Family Centre, and the fry bread was regarded as the best in Lethbridge by those in attendance.

“When colonization came, we got flour and that’s where fry bread comes from. Using the rations that we were given, flour being one of them, and trying to make recipes out of that,” said Jackson, who is also a red seal chef whose cooking speaks true to her talent.

Food served at the event presented ties to the Blackfoot culture.

“Traditionally our food was the buffalo, we relied solely on it. We never wasted anything. So today, we wanted to incorporate that,” said Young Pine. “It’s a healthy food, so we just wanted to make it for everybody in the stew.”

Looking to spread awareness and culture during Reconciliation Week, the Interfaith Food Bank will host an Indigenous Healing Garden Naming Ceremony today followed by berry soup and fry bead tasting at 1 p.m.

“It’s awesome to see so many community members wanting to support Reconciliation. I think that as long as we always keep Reconciliation in mind, it isn’t just a day. It takes allies to be there every day of the year and take action,” said Jackson.