Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Bannock for Canadian Thanksgiving

I've been writing about Canadian Thanksgiving - the history and culture behind their celebration, which is on the second Monday of October. So, today I'm going to share a recipe I found for Bannock - which is a First Nations bread and a common part of Canadian Thanksgiving, but first some information I found online about Bannock . . .

Bannock is a simple, flat quick bread which holds a deep and complex place in both Scottish and Indigenous North American food cultures. 

What is Bannock?

Basic Recipe: It is a yeast-free bread made from simple ingredients like flour, baking powder, water, salt, and a fat source like lard, butter, or oil.
Cooking Methods: It can be baked in an oven or on a hot stone, pan-fried in a cast-iron skillet, or wrapped around a stick and cooked over an open campfire.
Variations: Some regions distinguish it from American frybread by its baked or pan-cooked preparation, though the terms are occasionally used interchangeably. 

Origins and Pre-Contact Foods

Pre-contact roots: Before European contact, Indigenous groups made their own nutrient-dense flatbreads and cakes using native plants, roots, and tubers—such as the camas bulb—ground up with animal fats and berries. 
European introduction: The modern wheat-flour version of bannock was introduced via Scottish fur traders and settlers in the 18th and 19th centuries. The word itself derives from the Gaelic bannach. 

The Dark Legacy of Colonization

Forced reliance: During the 19th and 20th centuries, as Indigenous peoples were displaced from their traditional lands onto reserves, their access to wild game and traditional food sources was severely restricted. 
Government rations: Canadian and American colonial policies often provided meager, poor-quality food rations consisting mainly of white flour, sugar, lard, and salt. Bannock became a literal necessity for survival and preventing starvation under these oppressive conditions. 

Symbol of Resilience and Modern Identity

Cultural staple: Despite its painful historical ties to displacement and systemic injustice, bannock has been fully reclaimed by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. 
Gatherings and community: Today, various forms of bannock—baked or fried—are celebrated as a powerful symbol of Indigenous resilience, perseverance, and culinary creativity. It remains a comforting mainstay at family kitchens, community celebrations, ceremonies, and modern Indigenous food scenes.

Bannock is a common part of a Canadian Thanksgiving meal, so I'm happy to share links for two recipes I found online for a gluten-free Bannock and a regular baked Bannock. I'm making both for my family's first Canadian Thanksgiving this year!