Vancouver's Salmon n' Bannock becomes first Indigenous restaurant in a Canadian airport
The city’s only Indigenous-owned and -operated restaurant opens sister eatery, Salmon n’ Bannock On The Fly, at YVR on December 19
Salmon n’ Bannock On The Fly.
IN A HISTORIC FIRST, Vancouver’s only Indigenous-owned and -operated restaurant will open at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) on Musqueam Territory on December 19. Salmon n’ Bannock’s new sister restaurant, Salmon n’ Bannock On The Fly, is the inaugural Indigenous restaurant in a Canadian airport.
Both dining spots are helmed by Inez Cook, a member of the Bella Coola-based Nuxálk Nation, a survivor of the Sixties Scoop, and a former Air Canada flight attendant. Before co-founding Salmon n’ Bannock in 2010, she was a flight attendant for 33 years; she was based out of YVR for 25 years.
“I am thrilled to be bringing Salmon n’ Bannock to a world-class airport and proudly showcasing my heritage in the form of food with travellers from around the world to enjoy,” Cook says a release. “Our new location at YVR feels like a fitting extension of my two loves: travel and food.”
Salmon n’ Bannock On The Fly will feature the same kind of fresh, authentic Indigenous dishes that has made the bistro a long-standing success, such as wild salmon and free-range organic game meats. Other popular items include cedar jelly, sage-infused blueberry preserves, and bannock burgers.
Featured on the Salmon n’ Bannock On The Fly menu will be favourites such as the Feel the Beet Salad and Urban Salmon Burger. Other exclusive new offerings will similarly reflect the central role food plays in Indigenous cultures.
As a survivor of the Sixties Scoop—a mass removal of thousands of Indigenous children from their families without their consent by child welfare authorities, who placed them with mostly non-Indigenous families throughout Canada and the U.S.—Cook was just 12 months old when she was taken from her birth family. Through her culinary career, she has found a way to reclaim her roots, describing Indigenous cuisine as “food from the land”.
Just as at the Broadway location, Salmon n’ Bannock On The Fly will also feature works by Indigenous artists.
“This important addition to YVR’s roster of restaurants acknowledges the power of unique perspectives, accountability and a shared vision to support the development of a sustainable Indigenous tourism economy, thus supporting the economic recovery of BC,” says Brenda Baptiste, chair of Indigenous Tourism BC.
Salmon n’ Bannock On The Fly is located post-security in international departures.
For five years now, YVR, which sits on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam people, has held a Sustainability and Friendship Agreement with Musqueam, the first agreement of its kind in Canada.
“We are incredibly delighted that Inez has chosen to open a Salmon n’ Bannock location at YVR,” Tamara Vrooman, Vancouver Airport Authority president and CEO says in a release. “Travellers are now able to enjoy more fresh, locally made Indigenous food in the terminal or take it as grab-and-go for their aircraft journey. At YVR, we continue to connect travellers with the taste of British Columbia’s diverse and exciting flavours, showcasing the best of our region through food, hospitality and service. The introduction of Salmon n’ Bannock is a step forward on our journey of reconciliation and the recognition of the importance and desire to have indigenous-run businesses at YVR.”
Salmon n’ Bannock On The Fly will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for international travellers to experience food created by the original stewards of the land.
“I am honoured to be working with the Musqueam community to follow local protocols during this process and with YVR on this meaningful collaboration on a path towards reconciliACTION,” says Cook.
Salmon n’ Bannock On The Fly.
Related Articles
