Just over six months ago, life looked very different for Nataliia Bodnrchuk, who fled Ukraine with her family while pregnant with twins.
But on Saturday, the now-mother-of-four was among a dozen volunteers from the group Free Store for Ukrainian newcomers, who worked hard to prepare a variety of cultural dishes at Edmonton’s Cook County Saloon.
“If you come with nothing, just a suitcase, you have to build everything from scratch,” she said.
“This good opportunity for me … first of all we are trying to give Canadians and Ukrainians a part of Ukraine [to] Buy Ukrainian dishes.”
The work was made possible by Cook County Saloon Executive Chef Matthew Potts, who offered the group the restaurant’s kitchen to help prepare meals for sale, with the proceeds going to purchase basic groceries for newcomers who are dying settle in Canada.
Just over six months ago, life was very different for Nataliia Bodnrchuk, who fled Ukraine with her family while pregnant with twins. Now the mother of four works in Edmonton to support her family and other newcomers. (Brendan Coulter/CBC)
Potts, who hails from Samson Cree Nation about 100 kilometers south of Edmonton, said he was inspired to offer his cuisine to the group out of a shared sense of solidarity in the face of overcoming adversity.
“I see a lot of similarities in terms of how tribal peoples are being treated and how Ukrainians are being treated in the current situation that they are in,” Potts said of confronting systemic oppression.
“I think it’s pretty nice what they’re doing in the kitchen … usually on a Saturday morning I’m here by myself getting ready,” he said.
“It’s quite nice to be back there and listen to all of them speaking their native language and really having fun with it.”
Matthew Potts said he was inspired to offer his cooking to the group out of a shared sense of solidarity in the face of overcoming adversity. (Brendan Coulter/CBC)
Potts adds that the experience was a fusion of different worlds as the volunteers brought their Ukrainian cuisine to a restaurant known for its Southern-style “cowboy” aesthetic.
“It reminds me of my first time in Cook County. It’s eye opening and being ‘Whoa’ really means going back in history and really seeing an old style of Alberta that we don’t normally get to see anymore. “
Jorgia Krissa-Moore, co-founder of Free Store for Ukrainian Newcomers, said the group was established last April and has helped provide newcomers with items such as toiletries and clothing.
“Two of the people in the kitchen … owned their own restaurants in Ukraine,” Krissa-Moore said.
“They have all this great knowledge, this great experience, and that’s why we’re like, ‘Well, let’s start making Ukrainian food.'”
Prepared foods include items such as perogies, stuffed cabbage, cakes, and cupcakes. Some items are frozen once made and can be pre-ordered online from the group’s website. (Brendan Coulter/CBC)
The process was very emotional for both Krissa-Moore and the volunteers.
“It’s also nice that there’s this Canadian touch to this country saloon… I think it’s a good way to welcome them to Edmonton and show that we’re a mix of so many different cultures.”
Prepared foods include items such as perogies, stuffed cabbage, cakes, and cupcakes.
Some items are frozen once made and can be pre-ordered online from the group’s website.