Cooking Fish Upwanask Style

A set of 19 photos of Napthelie McKenzie showing how a fish can be cooked upwanask style over an open fire, without a frying pan, using sticks to hold it. Birchbark can serve as a plate in the bush. -p01: The fish is cleaned, opened up, and laid flat. -p02 to -p04: Napthelie cuts and peels several willow sticks. -p05: The longest stick is split part-way down. -p06: The stick is tied with a strip of bark to stop it splitting further. -p07 to -p08: The fish is then inserted into the split. -p09 to -p10: The stick is tied together with bark above the fish. -p11 to -p12: Smaller peeled sticks are inserted sideways across the fish to hold it flat. -p13 to -p14: Napthelie builds up the fire, while other fish hang on the smoking rack above. -p15 to p16: The stick is pushed into the ground and leaned over the fire. -p17 to -p18: The fish cooks slowly, being turned several times, and excess fat drips off it. -p19: Napthelie's daughter Martha serves up the delicious fish upwanask.

Historical note:

Photos of Napthelie McKenzie of Stanley Mission taken by Lois Dalby, DNS Academic Education Branch, as source material for developing northern classroom materials.