Stir Pairing: Food and wine from the land to savour during the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival
An indigenous World Winery red, bannockwich from Salmon n’ Bannock go hand in hand with the multidisciplinary fest that celebrates Canada’s diverse Indigenous cultures
Indigenous World Winery is B.C.’s only 100-percent Indigenous-owned winery, while Salmon n’ Bannock is Vancouver’s sole full-service Indigenous restaurant.
Talking Stick Festival co-presents Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival, where Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory’s David Finkle will lead a workshop in drum-making.
Every week, Stir Wine Pairing suggests BC wine and food to go with a local arts event.
The event
Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival, a co-presentation of Talking Stick Festival’s Summer Sojourn, to June 21
The drink
Indigenous World Winery’s Hee-Hee-Tel-Kin 2018
The food
Land and Sea Bannockwich from Salmon n’ Bannock
The lowdown
As part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, Talking Stick Festival is hosting its Summer Sojourn throughout the month of June. Among the programming are numerous co-presentations, one of them being the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival. Running to June 21, which is National Indigenous Peoples Day, the fest takes place on the traditional and unceded territories of the Algonquin Peoples and their descendants. With circumstances being what they are, the festival is a virtual affair for 2021, so anyone on Turtle Island can take part.
The multi-disciplinary arts festival—which is produced by Indigenous Experiences on behalf of the National Indigenous Peoples Day Committee—brings together Indigenous artists, performers, educators, cultural leaders, and community members to share knowledge of and celebrate Canada’s diverse Indigenous cultures.
There’s an online Indigenous marketplace, culinary events, a virtual powwow, music, comedy, dance, and more. Then there are Creation Workshops, ranging from stencilling to paddle decorating. On June 5, David Finkle leads one called Create A Traditional Hand Drum. Finkle who hails from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, is a multi-instrumental recording artist and a traditional Aboriginal instrument-maker.
The pairing
Situated in the home of the Okanagan Syilx people, Indigenous World Winery is helmed by Robert Louie, former Chief of the Westbank First Nation, and and his wife, Bernice. With an address and tasting room in Kelowna, the winery has vineyards in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys, while winemaker Jason Parkes has earned three Lieutenant Governor Awards for his craft.
The Hee-Hee-Tel-Kin 2018 is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon that’s youthful and herbaceous with a soft finish. It won a Bronze medal at the 2020 International Wine & Spirit Competition and retails for $22.99 via the winery.
The menu
Salmon n’ Bannock is the only dine-in, full-service Indigenous restaurant in Vancouver proper.
Owner Inez Cook, a member of the Bella Coola–based Nuxalk Nation, is a survivor of the Sixties Scoop; she was just 12 months old when she was removed from her birth family. Through her restaurant, she has found a way to reclaim her roots, describing Indigenous cuisine as “food from the land”. On the menu are ingredients that are local, sustainable, and seasonal.
The all-Indigenous staff members make fluffy bannock from scratch daily in house. This is the base of Land and Sea, a bannockwich with barbecue smoked salmon and One Arrow Meats’ Hickory Maple Bacon. (One Arrow Meats is run by Cree-Métis Two Spirit local chef Heat Laliberte.)
While Salmon n’ Bannock has re-opened for dine-in service, the restaurant has a small patio and also offers take-out and delivery.
Related Articles
