Never-ending journey

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/07/2022 (1189 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Indigenous experiences abound throughout Manitoba, and our short and sweet summer season is the perfect time to connect with the First Peoples of the place we all call home. Be inspired, walk a new path, reframe your history and satisfy your culinary cravings — all right here in our province.

Slow-roasted maple chipotle chicken is the star of the Sundance tipi taco at Winnipeg’s Feast Café Bistro (587 Ellice Ave.), but the deliciousness doesn’t end there. Christa Bruneau-Guenther, a home cook turned chef-owner of this thriving eatery (and, more recently, judge on Food Network’s Wall of Chefs), started with a mission to reconnect guests with Indigenous culture and food while being mindful and supportive of the community. It’s a pillar in the West End of the city, welcoming everyone from elders and those seeking a hot meal to members of the Supreme Court of Canada.

Breakfast starts with Bison Banny, a couple of poached eggs served atop bannock with squash cakes on the side and Manitoba grass-fed bison sausage. Pop in for lunch and load up on pickerel sliders featuring seared lemon pepper fish, dill chive aioli, shredded lettuce, tomato and a dill pickle served on bannock. Roasted butternut squash ravioli is served with garlic-herbed butter cream sauce, toasted walnuts and a generous dusting of parmesan. Make it extra hearty with shredded Manitoba bison.

Gather around Melanie Gamache’s table in Ste Genevieve for Perlage: a Métis Voyage. The workshop at Borealis Beading starts with scouting walk in the forest to explore native vegetation traditionally used by the Métis people.

Next it’s time to for a hands-on introduction to beading to understand how the Métis became known as the Flower Beadwork People. Finally, visitors share locally sourced bison jerky, honey, cheese, butter, homemade bannock and jam while sharing their thoughts on the experience.

Buffalo Point Resort (20 Buffalo Point Rd.), tucked into the southeastern corner of Manitoba on Lake of the Woods, invites visitors to golf, swim, fish, camp, eat and explore a little culture too. At the Fire & Water Bistro, local Reed River Rice harvested by Indigenous members of the community is on the menu. A stand-out is the pan-fried pickerel served with a smoked bean cassolette over wild rice. Owned by the Buffalo Point First Nation, don’t miss the cultural centre for a deep dive into the Indigenous history of the area. Inside, art and interpretive displays tell the stories of life here as far back as the 1700s, when Chief Red Cloud and the Sioux inhabited the land.

The Bannock Point Petroforms in the Whiteshell echo the shapes of humans and snakes, birds and turtles, all carefully arranged in moss-covered rocks on Canada’s Precambrian shield. Diane Maytwayashing knows them well. The Anishinaabe knowledge keeper takes visitors on guided walks of the sacred site, sharing stories of the teachings and healings that continue to this day through ceremony and song. Visitors learn about the original name of the site—Manidoo-Abi—that loosely translate into “where the spirit sits.” Book your visit at whiteshellpetroforms.com.

For an authentic step back in time, Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site’s Indigenous programming area includes beading displays, dwellings and costumed interpreters telling the First Peoples’ stories at the fort. In 1871, the Saulteaux (Ojibwa) and Swampy Cree First Nations people and the Crown made a pledge to build a relationship for the future. Hands-on workshops happen daily throughout the summer. Learn how to make candles, bake bannock or get your start as a blacksmith.

Dragon’s mouth, spotted coral root, pitcher plant: Keep your eyes cast downward for some of the most stunning wildflowers in Manitoba along the Brokenhead Wetland Interpretive Trail near Scantebury. It’s a project that ensures the historic cultural connection between the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation and the unique ecosystem nearby. Rare wild orchids, insect-eating plants and funky mushrooms are on display along the fully wheelchair accessible boardwalk. The nature-packed stroll through this sacred area includes interpretive signage to help visitors understand this complex ecosystem that’s been used by Indigenous people for over 300 years.

No visit to Churchill is complete without a visit to Wapusk Adventures, where dog carting takes the place of dog sledding in the summer months. Dave Daley’s love of his dog, family and Métis culture run deep as he shares his adventures of running the Hudson Bay Quest race and caring for his beloved beasts. Visitors hop aboard a wheeled dog cart and whoosh through the wilderness on an exhilarating ride called the Ididamile — a take on the annual famous Iditarod race in Alaska.

You’ll have no choice but to admire Niimaamaa’s beauty, the sculpture of a pregnant woman that represents motherhood, Mother Earth and new beginnings. The installation at The Forks rests at the entry to Niizhoziibean, a natural area that now includes the Gathering Space, a teaching lodge built by Indigenous craftspeople and based on a long-standing tradition of raising temporary shelters for ceremonies. Visitors are also invited to rest a while at the Peace Meeting interpretive site along the Broadway Promenade pedestrian pathway where the shared elements of two cultures are showcased. These new additions build on the Oodena Celebration Circle that has long been a significant and beautiful destination within The Forks with sculptures, a sundial, interpretive signage, a naked eye observatory and a ceremonial fire pit.

shel@shelzolkewich.com