聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Aformer聽Top Chef Canada聽finalist, who has traveled to several Indigenous聽communities across Canada to try and learn how food was prepared before Europeans stepped foot on the continent, was at Keeseekoose Chiefs Education Centre last week.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e use traditional commodities, new cooking techniques and implement them in new ways, suited to our times but never abandoning our vision of benefiting Aboriginal gastronomy as a whole,鈥� said Chef Rich Francis. 鈥淚鈥檓 showing Indigenous cuisine in a different way.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Based in Saskatoon, Francis is said to be a premiere First Nation high end catering resource for modern indigenous cuisine.
鈥淩ooted in culture and tradition, our menu is a pre-colonial culinary expression which sources the best indigenous products聽聽has to offer, along with exceptional service and hospitality,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hether you鈥檙e looking for an elaborate sit down tasting menu, feast style menu, wedding or corporate lunch, we have all of your catering needs covered.鈥�
Since 2010, Francis has been working聽to raise the profile of modern indigenous cuisine, says information on his website. A聽member of the Tetlit Gwich鈥檌n and聽Tuscarora Nations,聽born to his Gwich鈥檌n father and Haudenosaunee mother, Francis is originally from Fort聽McPherson, N.W.T. and is now living聽in Saskatoon. He聽currently operates a catering business and is looking forward to聽opening his restaurant 7th Fire next year.
鈥淭he Seventh Fire is聽an exploration of modern indigenous flavours inspired by pre-colonial First Nation cultures and traditions,鈥� he said, adding that cooking for reconciliation is a candid journey toward Truth and Reconciliation using Indigenous foods to create a better understanding of pre-colonial Indigenous culture and the impact of colonization.
鈥淥ur traditional foods have the ability to nourish and cultivate awareness and compassion,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat is the real heart and soul of indigeneity; how we think and conceptualize ourselves, how we tell one another about ourselves and how we create beauty, comfort, food, art, tradition,聽song and storytelling.
鈥淚 do this by personally sharing my experience and inspiration through interactive cooking demonstrations, keynotes or presentations while visiting with public and post-secondary schools, culinary institutions, and First Nation communities.
鈥淲e cover a wide range of topics with one common theme: reconnecting back to the land, our Creator and ourselves,鈥� he said.
