Bread, Battle & Bangs in Saskatchewan
- Ginger North
- Jun 16
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 1
#30CanadianFoods: Discover the rich heritage of Batoche, a resilient Métis community, and try your hand at Grandma’s Bangs—a delicious traditional twist on prairie comfort food.
🛤️ Welcome to Batoche: Fried Bread, Prairie Stories, and a Bit of Rebellion
Saskatchewan might be known for wide skies and waving wheat, but there’s more going on here than grain elevators and John Deere green. We’re pulling over in Batoche—a tiny place with a huge story. This stop on our #30CanadianFoods time machine gives us a glimpse into Métis resilience, rebellion, and, yes, ridiculously good fried bread.
If you’ve been following the whole #30CanadianFoods adventure, you can catch the full series here.
🌾 Prairie Roots: How Saskatchewan Grew from Fur to Farmland
Before Saskatchewan was even a province (hello, 1905!), it was a meeting ground of cultures: Indigenous peoples, fur traders, settlers from Eastern Europe, and the Métis—descendants of First Nations women and European fur traders—who formed a distinct nation of their own. They built farms and families along the rivers, especially the South Saskatchewan, and developed a unique way of life rooted in both survival and celebration.
One of the most defining moments in the province’s early history? The 1885 North-West Resistance, led by Louis Riel and the Métis at Batoche, in a fight for land, language, and culture. Spoiler: it didn’t end well for the resistance—but it sparked a legacy of resilience and pride that still echoes today.
Recent historical gem: In 2021, Parks Canada archaeologists uncovered more artifacts at Batoche—including bullets, buttons, and beads—that help paint a clearer picture of life during the Resistance. Every dig adds a little more colour to the canvas of this powerful place.
🏞️ Batoche National Historic Site: Where the Past Still Speaks
Batoche isn’t just a dot on the map—it’s a living storybook of Métis culture, resistance, and renewal. Located along the South Saskatchewan River, it’s quiet now, but it once echoed with rifle shots and the hopes of a people fighting for their rights.
✨ What You’ll Find:
The Church of St. Antoine de Padoue: Built in 1883, still standing tall—and still beautiful.
Interpretive Centre: Featuring stories told by Métis voices, videos, exhibits, and hands-on displays (including a reproduction Red River cart).
Walking Trails: Wander through the fields where the Battle of Batoche took place and stand where Gabriel Dumont and Louis Riel once stood.
Interactive Tours: Costumed guides, storytelling, and even live firing of traditional Métis weaponry (no, you don’t get to try it—but it’s awesome to watch).
💬 Visitors on TripAdvisor say:
“You can feel the emotion in the air.” “Absolutely moving. Worth the trip off the beaten path.” “This is not just history—it’s personal, it’s powerful, it matters.”
🧭 More Must-See Heritage Stops in Saskatchewan
1. Western Development Museum – Saskatoon
Hop aboard a prairie time machine! This museum shows how people lived, farmed, cooked, and got around on the vast Saskatchewan plains. Bonus: they host events with historic recipes and old-timey kitchen gear.
2. Wanuskewin Heritage Park – near Saskatoon
This award-winning centre tells the story of the Northern Plains Indigenous Peoples. From bison jumps to bannock to dance performances, it’s a celebration of pre-contact culture that’s been thousands of years in the making.
3. Claybank Brick Plant National Historic Site
Weirdly fascinating, this heritage site gives you a look at one of Canada’s best-preserved early industrial complexes. Bricks from here were used in the Titanic and WWII warships—and they have historical baking days using the brick ovens.
🔍 Prairie Oddities & History Nuggets
Métis flag = oldest patriotic flag in Canada: The infinity symbol on a blue background was first flown in 1815!
Cree Code Talkers: Saskatchewan-born Cree speakers helped the Allies in WWII by using Cree as a code language—just like the Navajo Code Talkers in the U.S.
The Bell of Batoche: Originally taken after the 1885 battle, it mysteriously resurfaced in 2013—sparking debate, pride, and reconciliation conversations across the country.
🍞 Grandma’s Bangs: A Crispy Bite of Métis Tradition
If you’ve never had a “bang,” get ready to fall in love with prairie comfort food. Twisted, golden, and just the right amount of chewy, these Métis fried bread bites are often made for holidays and special gatherings. They're warm, satisfying, and perfect with soup, stew—or just dipped in jam.
Here’s the scaled-down version used by the folks at Parks Canada's Batoche National Historic Site, adapted from the Fidler family’s tradition.
Grandma’s Bangs
Ingredients:
3¼ cups (370 g) all-purpose flour
½ tbsp (7.5 g) baking powder
¼ tsp (1.25 g) salt
¼ cup (55 g) soft shortening, in small pieces
1½ cups (375 ml) lukewarm water
Vegetable oil (for deep frying—about 1½” deep in pan)
Directions
In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Make a well, add shortening and warm water. Mix quickly.
Divide dough into two balls. Knead or roll each briefly on a hard surface. Let rest 15 minutes. Rework once more.
Heat oil in a heavy pot to 375°F (190°C).
Roll dough to ¼" thick squares. Cut into 3x3” pieces, slice two slits in each, and pull through to create twists.
Fry in batches until golden. Drain on paper towels.
To serve: Rewarm in a 350°F oven for 15 minutes. These freeze well!
👵🏽 Origin: Shared by Marie Parenteau-Fidler, mother of Ray Fidler of Batoche National Historic Site. Traditionally made for Christmas, New Year’s, and special family gatherings.
❤️ Why Heritage (and Fried Bread) Matter
Batoche isn’t just a site—it’s a symbol. Of resistance, resilience, and rootedness. Of people who stood up for their land, their language, and their lives. When we visit these places, cook their recipes, and tell their stories, we honour the generations that came before us—and make sure their voices echo forward.
So go on: fry up some bangs, take a bite of history, and maybe plan a prairie road trip. Your taste buds—and your inner history nerd—will thank you.
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