First Indigenous brewery opens in Saskatchewan | 24CA News
Minihkwe Brewery, Saskatchewan’s first Indigenous brewery, is now formally open in Saskatoon.
Located on the Sandman Signature on Lorne Avenue, the brewery kicked off its opening on Saturday with a chief rib dinner, reside comedy, magic and a musical efficiency by Armond Duck Chief, a Juno award nominee.
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Owner KJ Bird mentioned the thought for a brewery all began with one thing easy.
“The way it started out was just over a conversation and we were just kind of making jokes about starting our own beer company,” Bird mentioned.
Now two and a half months later, the corporate is able to launch two beers, that are anticipated to hit the cabinets on March 1.
The first beer is known as ‘The Minihkwe’, a blonde ale named after each the corporate and the Cree phrase for drink.
“Not only are we teaching everybody a word of Cree but there’s also on our label all the treaty territories in Saskatchewan … which is pretty cool,” Bird mentioned.
The brewery may even offer the ‘Omawisow’, a raspberry blonde ale that means berry picker.
Minihkwe is partnering with Better Brother Brewing to assist get their product off the bottom. CEO Jeff Rushton mentioned it was humbling when Bird related with him to get the challenge began.
“When KJ came to us, it was a no-brainer,” Rushton mentioned. “(We thought), how could we help and how could we best serve them. This whole process has been just finding out what they’re looking for and just trying our best to be able to help out.”
A portion of Minhkwe’s proceeds will go to organizations that present psychological well being and wellness assist to the group. Bird hopes beginning the primary Indigenous brewery within the province conjures up conversations about First Nations historical past and sends a message to these occupied with beginning their very own business.
“If you have an idea, just follow through with it,” Bird mentioned. “We didn’t expect this to happen and it was just a conversation. If you don’t take your chances, you’re never going to know.”
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