Alder Pepper Bison Flatbread with Cranberry BBQ Sauce
This flatbread is seasoned with alder pepper. In Indigenous culture, alder has many traditional uses, ranging from food seasoning with a woodsy, peppery flavour to woodworking and medicine. In Indigenous medicinal practices, Alder has traditionally been used to help treat skin conditions, joint pain, colds, and stomach aches. The many uses of alder reflect the resourcefulness and sustainability deeply rooted in Indigenous ways of life.
In this dish, the flatbread is topped with a cranberry BBQ sauce. From late September to early November, cranberries are in season in the Northwest Territories. Tart and tangy, they are a popular fall ingredient and are traditionally enjoyed by the Gwich’in people. Beyond being a food source, cranberries have long been valued by Indigenous Peoples for their use in traditional medicines and natural dyes. Learn more about cranberries here.
Teetl'it Gwich’in Language Lesson
Alder | K'oh
Berries | Jak
Buffalo (wood bison) |Dachan tat gwa’aak’ii
INDIGENOUS PRODUCT FEATURE
This recipe uses alder pepper sourced from Boreal Heartland, an Indigenous-owned and operated company that sustainably harvests products from boreal forest plants.
"Alder pepper catkins have a nice earthy, citrus flavour with a little bitterness. The catkins are ground down and mixed with other seasonings to create a delicious spice blend that pairs well with a gamey meat like bison. This is a fun recipe that's using traditional ingredients in a more modern way to serve students at the Dining Commons!"
- Chef Stephanie
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.
