Traditional Cooking in Northern Ontario

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The bounty of a successful hunt, many people work hard to bring the harvest to the table - Photo by Tannis Smith
The bounty of a successful hunt, many people work hard to bring the harvest to the table - Photo by Tannis Smith

Spring Time is Time for Traditional Living

THUNDER BAY – It is spring. For First Nations communities across the North, that means an opportunity to get out on the land, and to harvest traditional foods.

Spring goose hunting along James Bay in Washaho First Nation - Fort Severn.
Spring goose hunting along James Bay in Washaho First Nation – Fort Severn.

 The Bounty of a Successful Hunt

The bounty of a successful hunt, many people work hard to bring the harvest to the table - Photo by Tannis Smith
The bounty of a successful hunt, many people work hard to bring the harvest to the table – Photo by Tannis Smith
The youth not only participate, but really enjoy the hunt. Photo by Tannis Smith.
The youth not only participate, but really enjoy the hunt. Photo by Tannis Smith.

Goose hunting in the spring offers families and friends the opportunity to gather, hunt, prepare food and share in the bounty of nature.

From KI First Nation, Ronald Sainnawap has uploaded the video; Traditional Living, Traditional Cooking.

Maple Syrup a Tasty Treat – But Lots of Work

Here in Thunder Bay, on the Fort William First Nation for the past weeks, a dedicated group of harvesters have been gathering sap from the Maple Trees on the Nor’Wester Escarpment. It is a lot of work, first gathering the sap, then boiling it down.

Boiling down the sap from the Maple Trees on the Fort William First Nation
Boiling down the sap from the Maple Trees on the Fort William First Nation Photo by Raili Alexander
Stirring the sap to boil it down to the tasty maple syrup - Photo by Raili Alexander.
Stirring the sap to boil it down to the tasty maple syrup – Photo by Raili Alexander.

The group has been sharing the tasty syrup with community members on Fort William First Nation. The amounts are not huge, but the flavour from all reports is amazing.

The dedication of the volunteers has been massive, and their efforts have been appreciated across the community.

Raili Alexander shares, “I just want acknowledge a few people who’s efforts far exceeded my own on this great effort. Damien Lee and Sarah, Jacob Mckay and Olivia Pelletier, Beau Boucher, Stephanie MacLaurin, Helen Pelletier, Dalton Demerah and Julie, along with everyone who donated wood or snacks”.

Sugar Maples
Sugar Maples on the Nor’Westers where Thunder Bay City Council has allowed a wind farm development that sees hundreds of trees cut down.

Smelt Run is On along Lake Superior

Smelts
Smelt fishing is a Thunder Bay tradition.

The annual smelt run on Lake Superior is getting underway. The spring tradition brings people out from across the city and region to gather the tasty little fish for their dinners.Across Northern Ontario, traditional foods offer a tasty way to re-engage with our history.

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