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Luxury Gold – Journey Beyond the Ordinary -
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Cuisine

The story behind Vancouver’s only Indigenous restaurant, Salmon n’ Bannock

June 29, 2022 by Luxury Gold No Comments

Food is not just about great taste and nutrition. And you’ll discover exactly that when you visit Salmon n’ Bannock on our Majesty of the Rockies luxury guided tour. As you sit down to a specially prepared lunch, you’ll find the experience is so much more than just a delicious meal. You’re visiting the only Indigenous-owned and operated restaurant in Vancouver. You’re eating traditional and authentic Indigenous foods and flavours, passed down by elders. And you’re coming together at the gathering place created by proud Nuxalk Nation’s member Inez Cook. As the founder and owner of Salmon n’ Bannock, and the author of children’s book ”The Sixties Scoop”, Inez Cook is an incredible educator and an advocate for Indigenous people in Canada. This is her story…

The story of Inez Cook

Inez Cook was born in Bella Coola B.C., a proud member of the Nuxalk Nation, one of the first Nations of Canada. When she was just one year old, she was forcibly taken from her mother by the Canadian Government and given to a white family to raise in Vancouver. 

Cook was one of an estimated 20,000 Indigenous children stolen under the Sixties Scoop, a government policy of cultural assimilation and systematic erasure beginning in the 1950s and lasting until the 1990s. There were also cases of child welfare services selling Indigenous children for tens of thousands of dollars to white adoptive parents across Canada. To this day, the true number of victims remains unknown as many forced adoption records were destroyed or disappeared. 

While Cook says she is one of the lucky ones who had a loving adoptive family, she said she always felt out of place and had no information about her biological family while growing up. She knew she was adopted but did not know she was born Nuxalk, or that she was stolen from her parents in Bella Coola. 

RELATED CONTENT: Uncovering Indigenous history with Canada’s Warrior Women

@salmonnbannockbistro

The inspiration behind Salmon n’ Bannock

As Cook grew into adulthood, she felt a strong yearning to learn about her Indigenous heritage. Food became the major catalyst for her reconnection with the Nuxalk Nation. As she worked in different food industry jobs over the years, she realised there were no Indigenous restaurants in the whole of Vancouver. She dreamed of opening her own restaurant. 

One day, Cook drove past the sign of Indigenous-owned Kekuli Cafe in Kelowna that read “Don’t panic…We have bannock!” (traditional Indigenous bread). That sign inspired her to make the decision then and there to open a restaurant that would pay homage to her Indigneous heritage. 

Cook wanted to create a space that represents Indigenous foods, traditions, and culture with pride. She wanted to build a gathering place where people could come together to share food and stories. In 2010, Cook achieved this dream, opening her restaurant, Salmon n’ Bannock. 

RELATED CONTENT: Why journeying through the Rocky Mountains will stay with you for a lifetime

The food of Salmon n’ Bannock

After months of research and learning about First Nation cooking techniques and native ingredients, Cook built a remarkable menu. She wanted the restaurant to showcase traditional methods like smoking and preserving food. She also wanted to use Indigenous foods and dishes that First Nations people traditionally hunted and harvested. Her menu includes foods like bannock, bison, wild sockeye salmon, game meats, maple syrup, wild boar, and Ojibway wild rice. Cook would use seasonal and foraged ingredients and even bought wild huckleberries from a First Nations elder who carried a gun in case he needed to scare off bears while foraging.

Cook says she learns more about Indigenous dishes and foods every day at Salmon n’ Bannock and that the restaurant does not represent any one First Nation. Instead, it’s a thoughtful and authentic menu of Indigenous food. It’s also a celebration of Cook’s heritage and identity – a proud Native woman. 

Indigenous dishes with modern influences

Cook then took the traditional ingredients and dreamed up modern twists. Take pemmican, an important Indigenous food, traditionally made with dried meat and berries. Cook has revived this dish by making a delicious, rich Pemmican Mouse. It’s made with smoked and dried bison mixed with sage-blueberries and cream cheese, and paired with their perfectly toasted bannock.

@salmonnbannockbistro

She also transformed wild sockeye salmon into the Urban Salmon Burger, served with signature bannock, lemon aioli and house made pickles. Salmon is spiritually significant for many Indigenous people as it represents the Circle of Life in the way it is born in freshwater, lives in saltwater, then returns to freshwater to spawn and die. Cook marinades and smokes the fish using dry white sage, a sacred herb used in smudging practices in important ceremonies. Freshly baked bannock bread is then symbolically split in two to form the bun for the salmon. The breaking of the bannock shows that everyone is welcome at the table here. 

@salmonnbannockbistro

The beauty of bannock

Bannock, which plays a starring role in this aptly-named restaurant, is a traditional Indigenous food with a complex history entwined with colonialism. Scottish fur traders first introduced a version of bannock to Canada, however, Indigenous peoples adopted bannock and it’s made differently all over the country. Bannock plays an important role in Indigenous cultures and is an essential dish at potlatches, a traditional ceremony and feast for First Nations communities. 

In British Columbia, bannock is known as the “Aboriginal staff of life” and cultural knowledge and stories are often shared over a basket of bannock. It’s a cultural tradition and a staple comfort food made in many different ways. At its most simple, it’s a mix of flour, water, baking powder and salt, and it can be fried, baked, or cooked on an open fire. It can be pillowy soft and deliciously crumbly. 

@salmonnbannockbistro

Cook has her own fond memories of bannock. She used to make it at summer camp as a child, cooked over the fire and drizzled in corn syrup. Today, Cook’s signature bannock embraces the diversity of this dish. She serves it scone-like with butter and berry jam and as crackers with salmon mousse. She whips it into a bun for a wild samon burger, and as bread topped with mushrooms, melted brie, sage-blueberries and bison gravy. Cook says that Indigenous people all made some kind of bread, pre-colonialism, and today she makes bannock to reclaim this Indigenous dish. She wants her food to be seen as a proud declaration of Indigenous food and culture.  

RELATED CONTENT: Top Vacation Spots for Cheese Lovers

@salmonnbannockbistro

How the restaurant helped Inez Cook find her family
As more First Nations members began visiting the restaurant to try out the food for themselves, Cook was questioned by Nuxalk peoples on her authenticity. After sharing her biological mother’s name – Miriam – with a Nuxalk woman, Cook’s uncle soon showed up. He told Cook he’d been looking for her for a while and had promised her mother Miriam he would find her one day. 

Sadly, Cook’s mother had passed away before she could meet her, however, Cook’s uncle gave her restaurant a Nuxalk blessing and invited her to her community for an emotional three-day potlatch. There she reunited with her Nuxalk Nation and was able to meet hundreds of relatives. She also received her regalia and traditional Nuxalk name, Snitsmana, which means “protector of the sacred dance, and lively”. Through this experience, Cook was able to learn about the culture and traditions of the Nuxalk. She felt she could embrace her Indigenous roots, all while gaining a sense of belonging and new understanding about herself. 

@salmonnbannockbistro

Educating through food

Over the last 12 years, Salmon n’ Bannock has remained Vancouver’s only Indigenous-owned and operated restaurant. It’s one of the best establishment’s on the city’s dining scene, and exclusively hires Indigenous and First Nations staff. Her team includes members of Nuxalk, Carrier Sekani, Cree, Haida, Long Plain, Muskoday, Ojibway, Pinaymootang, Squamish, Tsimshian, and  Quw’utsun Nations and Indigenous groups, along with a Maori employee from New Zealand.

Cook also uses the restaurant to educate and advocate through food. In 2018, she and Jason Eaglespeaker published “The Sixties Scoop”, a children’s book that shares the truth about Canada’s genocide. Cook says she never learned about this at school when she was growing up and believes the best way to educate future generations is by teaching children. 

@salmonnbannockbistro

Indigenous food sovereignty

Cook says we still have a long way to go in fighting misinformation and achieving food sovereignty for Indigenous communities. She says that some foods, like wild game, still have to go through several strict regulations before they can be served. With over 600 Indigenous nations across Canada, it’s absurd that Indigenous people are not allowed to serve their traditional food. Cook says there needs to be commercially approved kitchens in all Indigenous communities so health inspectors will approve them of serving these foods. 

Indigenous land acknowledgements

Cook also campaigns for airlines to include a proper land acknowledgement in their pre-touchdown anniuncements when arriving into Canada. She also wants the “Welcome to Vancouver” sign to include the recognition that the city is set on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples. They were the original inhabitants for 9,000 years before the Europeans landed here, and they never ceded or signed away their land. Cook says that land acknowledgement is a small but significant step towards showing respect for Indigenous people and righting past wrongs. 

RELATED CONTENT: The Most Beautiful National Parks in Western Canada

@salmonnbannockbistro

Breaking bannock – the spirit of Salmon n’ Bannock
Food is something that has always brought people from all cultures together. This is particularly true for Cook, for whom food has led her to reconnect with her family and culture. She dreams of the day that Indigenous restaurants are no longer a rarity in Canada and wants Indigenous food to become part of the common dialogue – as regular as going for burgers, sushi or tacos. She envisions her restaurant being a place where people can learn about Canada’s First Nations people, by sharing stories and traditions through food. 

So when people come to her restaurant to break bannock, they’re not only tucking into a beautiful meal – they’re helping to preserve and celebrate Indigenous cultures.

Would you like to experience Salmon n’ Bannock? You’ll visit this fantastic restaurant on our Majesty of the Rockies luxury guided tour, where you’ll break bannock over a delicious Celebration Lunch made with traditional ingredients and flavours.

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Luxury Journeys, USA and Canada

Uncovering Indigenous history with Canada’s Warrior Women

June 21, 2022 by Luxury Gold No Comments

First Nations communities of modern-day Alberta have been gathering, harvesting, and connecting to the inspiring lands of Jasper National Park from ancient times, playing an integral part in upholding the beauty and history of this spiritual place. Travel on our Majesty of the Rockies luxury guided tour and enjoy a unique opportunity to explore the Indigenous history of Canada, and discover the heartbeat of Mother Earth with the Warrior Women.  

Read more: Why journeying through the Rocky Mountains will stay with you for a lifetime 

Meet the Warrior Women  

 Amongst the sublime mountain peaks, icy glaciers and azure lakes of Jasper Park, lies a very special, and intimate, Luxury Gold MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Here you are invited onto traditional First Nations land that is now part of Jasper National Park for the unique opportunity to spend time with the First Nations Warrior Women and learn all about their community and culture. Immerse yourself in the legends of the Cree people, hear stories of the land and people that will stay with you forever, and gain a deeper understanding of the First Nations’ spirituality 

As they sweep you up in conversation, Matricia and Mackenzie Brown, Matriarchs of the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, openly share their knowledge and passion with their guests. Enjoy storytelling and drumming and savor traditional foods over an intimate fireside BBQ on Trefoil Lake, all with spectacular views of Pyramid Mountain. You will even learn songs and phrases in Cree to take away and share with your family and friends.  

Indigenous history

Experience a deep-rooted connection to the lands and culture 

Matricia Brown, Founder of Warrior Women tells us more: “As founder of Warrior Women, my goal is to open the eyes of locals and travelers alike with experiences that bring a better understanding of both the culture and the land of our Indigenous people.” 

“We welcome you to explore our deep-rooted connection to the land while taking part in fireside chats and plant walks. Both experiences include the sacred traditions of drumming and singing, practices found in every aspect of our culture from celebrations of new births to the passing of loved ones.  

“During these sacred rituals, you’ll engage in conversation with me and other guests, walking away with a genuine and heartfelt experience often overlooked in the tourism industry.”  

Discover this on: Majesty of the Rockies 

Who are the Warrior Women?  

A mother and daughter who are rooted in tradition and ambassadors of their knowledge, Warrior Women are Matricia and Mackenzie Brown, both First Nations Cree, from Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation. Matricia, a singer, songwriter, musician, drummer and artist, has had the privilege of sharing her culture over the last 20 years in schools and through workshops, where she teaches drum making and leather binding amongst other traditions. Her daughter Mackenzie is a performer, drummer, tourism entrepreneur, philanthropist, and advocate for at-risk youth in Alberta.   

indigenous history

Reclaiming their culture

Combining music with a special interactive intimacy, the fireside chats offer a free space for guests to explore their curiosity and learn about the Indigenous history of Canada in a personal, thoughtful way. Through sharing her life experiences and music, Matricia brings the beauty of her culture to the forefront. 

She explains “For me personally, Indigenous drumming and singing is a way to connect to my own culture on a daily basis. After being taken from my reservation at the age of five (a sad part of Canadian history referred to as “The Sixties Scoop”), part of my story is the loss of a natural family. Evolving as a person meant reclaiming my culture.  

 “Drumming journeys are a way for Indigenous people to celebrate their roots, and also a way to share the beauty of our culture with others.  The spirit of the land and the symbiotic relationship between earth and mankind is vital to understanding Indigenous people – this encompasses relationships between the people and the land, the people and the animals, and between the people themselves.”   

Jasper National Park  

At 2.7 million acres, Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. “There’s no better setting for this than Jasper Park. Everything here sustains us” says Matricia, “Every berry, every leaf, every flower, every tree and every animal has a legend behind it. Like how the rabbit got its long ears, or why the bear has no tail. With so many elements right at our doorstep, you are able to see how we can use these resources in practical ways, such as botanical oils and moccasin-making.  

“For 10,000 years Indigenous people have been able find health and equilibrium by what mother earth provides us with. By understanding Indigenous culture, you learn to understand yourself. I think that’s what I’d like people to take away the most.” 

Majesty of the Rockies 

To meet the Warrior Women and learn about Indigenous history, travel on our Majesty of the Rockies luxury guided tour. This exceptional 9-Day journey takes you through the Rocky Mountains, uncovering the treasures of Western Canada. Feel like royalty on a luxurious train ride onboard the Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Service, admiring the breathtaking scenery as you travel through the Rockies from Jasper to Vancouver. Explore the great frozen tundra of the Columbia Icefield, step on the Athabasca Glacier and board the Ice Explorer for a voyage across the largest icefield in the Rockies.  

Travel with Luxury Gold and you can also choose to extend this remarkable journey and fly to Vancouver Island via seaplane for an additional stay or alternatively, embark on a cruise to explore Alaska.  

With our 2024 tours to the Americas now available, there is no better time to start planning your journey of a lifetime. 

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Make Travel Matter

4 incredible MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences you can enjoy with Luxury Gold

June 1, 2022 by Luxury Gold No Comments

As we yearn to travel again, the desire for responsible travel burns ever brighter. MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences are at the heart of Luxury Gold’s sustainable travel strategy and our just-released Impact Report shows how we, along with our sister brands at The Travel Corporation, are working to meet our ambitious goals. 

To see how you can enjoy responsible travel safe in the knowledge that you are leaving a lasting impact, here are 4 incredible MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences you can enjoy with Luxury Gold.  

Join a farmhouse cookery workshop in Ireland 

In the secluded paradise of Strangford Lough in County Down, you are warmly invited to step inside Tracey’s Farmhouse for the ultimate Irish home-hosted culinary experience. Learn how to make one of the most famous foods of the Emerald Isle as you roll up your sleeves for an Irish soda bread cookery workshop. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, you will have the privilege to meet with Tracey herself for a tour of her organic farm. Through this unique opportunity, discover everything you ever wanted to know about the slow food movement and sustainable farming. Prepare to have your taste buds tantalized as you savor a Farm-to-table lunch and leave with a wealth of knowledge and some new acquired cooking skills. 

At the heart of this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience is a focus on seasonal produce and organically grown ingredients sourced from the immediate community. Tracey’s Farmhouse is actively practicing and encouraging the slow food movement. With a focus on preventing the disappearance of local food cultures and traditions, the movement believes that through our food choices we can collectively influence how food is cultivated, produced and distributed.  

UN Global Goals 

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience directly advances UN Global Goal 12, Responsible Consumption and Production, through the promotion of sustainable farming methods and the support of locally grown produce.  

@traceysfarmhousekitchen

Discover on Ultimate Ireland 

Ride a rickshaw like no other in India 

Upon arrival in Rajasthan’s stunning capital of Jaipur, you can see the distinctive salmon hue across the city’s skyline. More affectionately known as the Pink City, this pretty destination owes its name to a visit from Queen Victoria in 1876, when all its buildings were painted pink as a sign of hospitality. Steeped in heritage, a tour of Jaipur is a heady cocktail of traditional folk song and dance, stunning architecture, textile markets, handmade designer shopping and exquisite local cuisine. 

 Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and explore the city in flamboyant style, aboard bright pink, custom-designed and eco-friendly rickshaws driven by local women. More than just a fun way to explore Jaipur, the Pink City Rickshaw offers a unique opportunity to help support more than 200 local women from low-income households. Hop in, hear their stories first-hand and discover how proud they are to have developed their skills by joining this inspiring organization. If you are looking for responsible travel experiences, this is the perfect way to explore the city and we guarantee you will delight in their enthusiasm and knowledge as you embark on a historical journey around Jaipur.  

UN Global Goals 

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience directly enhances UN Global Goal 5, Gender Equality, as through your custom you are both empowering women and supporting a women-owned business.  

Discover on Essence of India with Ranthambore and Spirit of North & South India 

Read more: A New Way to Navigate Jaipur – The Pink City 

@trishalalovebug

Saving the Iberian Lynx in Portugal 

In the exquisite landscapes of southern Portugal, join an unforgettable feline MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Visit the charming hilltop town of Serpa with its cobbled streets graced by olive trees, red-sloped roofs and white sun-baked houses and learn all about the Iberian Lynx, the world’s most endangered feline. Meet with experts and hear how Serpa has implemented conservation programs to protect and re-introduce the species to the local area.  

The Iberian Lynx has been gradually reintroduced to the Vale do Guadiana Nature Park since early 2015. This was once its natural habitat, but the lynx disappeared from the area due to direct hunting. Today, the population is booming and a visit to the region offers a unique responsible travel experience to get to know the extraordinary species and this beautiful, protected area.  

UN Global Goals 

When you visit Serpa, you’ll directly contribute to UN Global Goal 15, Life on Land, as the region aims to preserve the Iberian Lynx through concentrated conservation efforts.  

Discover on Spain & Portugal in Style 

A unique dining experience in Sweden 

Be treated to a delectable plant-based fine dining experience and bask in magnificent views over Stockholm on this mouthwatering MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Visit the iconic Fotografiska Museum, dine at their acclaimed restaurant which has been honored with the Michelin Sustainability Emblem, and meet the chefs and creators behind their inspiring food philosophy.  

 Striving to achieve taste sensations and increase awareness in equal measure, learn about the conscious kitchen and the benefits of hydroponic cultivation. Leave with a wealth of knowledge, including the concept of zero waste, upcycling and ideas of what to do with leftover buns and bottles.  

The culinary team at Fotografiska strive to explore the full potential of raw ingredients, with creative and innovative dishes. The five-course menu includes delicious creations such as celeriac confit flavored with pastrami spices, cream of fermented celery, pickled cucumber and deep-fried sauerkraut, and their signature Fotografiska curry featuring rapeseed shoots and mustard. The focus is largely vegetarian, however meat, fish, poultry or seafood are available as an option or side dish. 

UN Global Goals 

Your visit to the Fotografiska Museum restaurant will directly advance UN Global Goal 12, Responsible Consumption and Production, as it helps to promote sustainable food experiences and small-scale farmer interactions through its food sourcing and zero waste strategies. 

Discover on Timeless Scandinavia 

@fotografiska.food

To find out more about sustainable travel experiences and responsible travel, take a look at our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences and read our Impact Report. 

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