INDIGENOUS FEMALE-OWNED CAFE OPENS AT FORT LANGLEY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

Chef Sarah Meconse Mierau welcomes the Fort Langley community to The Ancestor Cafe
with an aim to support Indigenous food sovereignty.

The Ancestor Cafe, the latest venture by Chef Sarah Meconse Mierau, owner of Tradish and member of the First Nation Sayisi Dene, officially opens its doors to the Fort Langley community next week on February 29. Similar to the Tradish food truck, The Ancestor Cafe aims to bring traditional Indigenous nourishment to urban Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities while supporting Indigenous food sovereignty.

Chef Sarah Meconse Mierau’s passion for honouring Indigenous culinary traditions shines in every aspect of The Ancestor Cafe. Featuring bison and elk bannock tacos, baked goods, hand-crafted plant-medicine jams, and lemonade, Sarah has created a menu that seamlessly integrates traditional Indigenous ingredients, enriching each dish with flavour and health benefits. Using ingredients like juniper, chamomile, dandelion and sage, the menu incorporates the benefits of Indigenous medicinal plants to support overall wellbeing.

“The Ancestor Cafe is a welcoming environment where Indigenous cuisine is readily available to everyone. Our goal is to nurture a deeper appreciation for Indigenous culture through culinary experiences and provide visitors with an opportunity to learn about Indigenous ingredients and our dishes,” says Chef Sarah Meconse Mierau.

Sarah’s eldest son, Anthony, aged 17, will debut as the cafe’s lead cook, highlighting his excellent culinary skills. He hopes to encourage Indigenous youth to continue learning about their culture and the importance of nourishing, healthy foods.

“We are pleased to welcome The Ancestor Cafe to Fort Langley National Historic Site. Visitors are in for a treat with the cafe’s menu of tasty and purposeful Indigenous food experiences,” shared Brigitte Wieronski, Site and Visitor Experience Manager at Fort Langley National Historic Site.

The Ancestor Cafe champions Indigenous food sovereignty through collaborations with local Indigenous communities and suppliers, ensuring ingredients are ethically sourced whenever possible. Sarah and the team make tobacco offerings to honour their ancestors when traditional Indigenous sourcing methods are unavailable. Additionally, The Ancestor Cafe is a nurturing space for Indigenous youth, providing employment opportunities and skill development within the culinary industry.

The cafe, located inside Fort Langley National Historic Site, will be open Wednesday to Sunday. For more information about Ancestor Cafe, please visit Tradish’s Instagram account at www.instagram.com/tradishcanada.

About Tradish and The Ancestor Cafe:

Based in Vancouver, BC, and owned by Chef Sarah Meconse Mierau, Tradish and The Ancestor Cafe brings traditional Indigenous nourishment to urban Indigenous and non-Indigenous health-conscious people, while supporting Indigenous food sovereignty. Their nourishing jams utilize traditional botanical ingredients for additional health benefits that are equally delicious.

Media release provided by Melissa Verdicchio, Nine Point Agency. Image courtesy of Tradish.