A versatile dish, bannock is an unleavened bread formed from a simple dough consisting of flour, water, and fat. Recipes direct that the dough be cooked through methods such as baking or frying, depending on the desired density and texture. Due to its simplicity, the resulting bread can be used in a variety of ways, often serving as a foundation for bread-based recipes. While bannock has been popularised amongst Indigenous communities in North America, its origin in Europe and subsequent adoption into Indigenous culture gives it a complex history that has transversed social, cultural, and political boundaries.

Originating in Scotland, bannock was traditionally created from grains such as oats and barley. Initial cooking methods saw the bread cooked upon a “bannock stone”, a flattened piece of stone that served as a griddle. Although it was a common meal, production was at its peak during religious holidays, with recipes being adjusted to commemorate the celebration at hand. Furthermore, some bannock recipes were seasonal, with different variations for each quarter of the Druidic year. Due to this presence in Scottish culture, bannock was one of the many European goods that accompanied Scottish fur traders as they arrived in North Americas during the 18th and 19th centuries. 

Although Indigenous populations had their own forms of unleavened bread prior to colonisation, their ongoing interactions with Scottish fur traders facilitated the adoption of bannock throughout their communities. Not only did bannock make use of new ingredients arriving from Europe such as flour and lard, its simplicity allowed for it to be easily prepared when  Indigenous people engaged in activities such as hunting, fishing, and gathering. However, shortly after its introduction bannock shifted from being a convenient and reliable food source and instead became a means of survival. 

As European nations began staking their claim to Indigenous territory, Indigenous communities saw their land taken from them and their natural resources appropriated, keeping them from engaging in traditional food practices. Due to this, Indigenous communities saw widespread food insecurity and starvation, contributing to the decline in their population. Furthermore, as the reservation system was established, Indigenous nations forced to occupy reserves were required to survive on the minimal rations afforded to them by western powers. As such, Indigenous nations turned to bannock to sustain them, giving them a means to use the few western staples that they had access to. Over time, bannock became a necessary aspect of Indigenous life, with nearly all nations producing their own version of bannock. 

Today bannock occupies various roles within Indigenous culture. For some, the bread continues to serve as a means of sustenance, ensuring the survival of many communities impoverished due to settler colonial structures. For others, bannock has been adopted as a staple and can be found in many Indigenous-owned restaurants. Alongside this, bannock accompanies community gatherings, being served alongside more traditional foods such as bison. Furthermore, some Indigenous people abstain from consuming bannock altogether as they regard it as a byproduct of their colonisation. These differing viewpoints serve as a reminder that opinions regarding Indigenous foodways are as diverse as those who engage with them. 

As a white settler on Turtle Island, I do not share the same cultural connection to bannock that Indigenous people do. However, I was lucky to have bannock establish itself as a key feature throughout my adolescence. While in high school, I attended an alternative education institution known as a learning centre which provided education for at-risk youth. During my time there, I made connections with many of my Indigenous peers, some of whom are still my close friends today. As such, I was often invited to Indigenous community events such as weaving workshops and lessons on traditional harvesting. Through my participation I was exposed to my local Indigenous community’s cuisine, which included bannock. Whether it was baked, fried, or used for tacos, bannock was a food that I had the regular opportunity to enjoy with those I cared about. Today, eating bannock brings back memories of my learning centre family and the many ways in which they changed my life for the better.

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