More than just a cookbook, traditional recipes preserve First Nation's history

Two authors from L'nui Menuikuk, also known as Indian Island First Nation, hope readers will find more than just recipes in the pages of their new book.

Margaret Augustine and Lauren Beck say historical in‐ formation and traditional knowledge are just as impor‐ tant as the recipes in Mitji Let's Eat! Mi'kmaq Recipes from Sikniktuk.

The book was launched Tuesday amid the aroma of traditional bread, rice sausage casserole, seafood chowder, and more at a potluck hosted by Red Teep‐ ee Creations.

"Mitji" is a Mi'kmaw word used to welcome meal time, said the authors in the book's description,

WATCH | 'This is an en‐ deavour of love'

Augustine said the idea for the book came over tea and a meal in the Elsipogtog school and community garden, where children and elders would gather to share knowledge about food prepa‐ ration.

"As we started losing el‐ ders, I realized the priority that we needed to capture some of the recipes and the stories of food," she said.

"We interviewed quite a number of people. So it's not just stories of food, it's sto‐ ries of resilience. It's stories of being with the family on the land."

The community cuisine has changed since settlers first arrived in L'nui Menuikuk, Augustine said.

She called that phenome‐ non "gastrocolonialism" or the way colonial policies re‐ stricting access to food changed Indigenous recipes to what they are now.

"Traditionally, it used to be, you know, the food you get from the land and the sea, the berries, the nuts, the moose, the deer," Augustine said.

By focusing the cookbook on present-day favourites, Beck said the pair created something they didn't expect.

"At a very early stage, we thought we were collecting recipes, writing recipes, cook‐ ing recipes, sharing recipes," Beck said. "Quickly it became quite evident that we had a larger body of knowledge that was becoming a part of this project."

While some recipes like bread might appear simple, Augustine said each holds a subtle marker of community resilience.

"When the Indian agent, gave you rations, and you had to survive on those ra‐ tions, and you were discour‐ aged from leaving the re‐ serve, and you made bread ... you shared that bread with your family and the commu‐ nity, and that kept your family going," she said.

"Those are stories of de‐ termination and resilience against those colonial genoci‐ dal policies, what they did to First Nations across North America."

Augustine said all pro‐ ceeds from the book will go to the Elsipogtog elders cen‐ tre to help fund community programming.

"This is an endeavour of love," Augustine said at the potluck. "We put this togeth‐ er as a gift to all our commu‐ nities, and to settlers who are allies of the Mi'kmaw Na‐ tion."