Three Sisters Soup
The three sisters refer to a traditional trio of plants grown by various Indigenous Peoples across North and Central America—corn, climbing beans and squash. When planted side by side these crops help each other grow.
Corn provides support for the bean vines to grow on. Beans add nitrogen into the soil to fertilize the corn and squash. Finally, squash grows as a groundcover to provide shade, which keeps the ground moist and prevents weeds from growing.
Three sisters soup is a complete nutritional package with carbohydrates from corn, protein from the beans, essential vitamins and minerals from the squash.
“Soups are made quite frequently in the north and I enjoy making soups, as it’s my connection to my home when I’m living so far away. The story of the three sisters (corn, squash, beans) is one of helping each other and protecting each other during growth. Our land has taught us so much about what we need to survive. We are still learning from the land today. We need to protect and care for the land for a brighter future.”
- Chef Steph
Meet The Chef
Steph Baryluk
Chef Steph Baryluk, a proud Teetl’it Gwich’in from Teetl’it Zheh (Fort McPherson), Treaty 11 Territory, draws deep inspiration from her Arctic upbringing, where hunting, fishing, and land stewardship shaped her connection to food and cultural heritage.
With more than 10 years of experience as a Red Seal Indigenous Chef, Steph is passionate about preserving and sharing Indigenous culinary traditions through education, culinary training, and community engagement.
Named one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2024 and a recipient of the WXN Food Industry Award, Chef Steph is a leader in advancing Indigenous food systems. From community kitchens to the global stage, she combines her culinary expertise with advocacy to inspire future generations while promoting sustainability and celebrating Indigenous cultural heritage.
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