Métis communities across the Homeland have always shared a love of food. Stews and soups were and continue to be a warm, hearty meal during winter, using ingredients found within each Métis community’s place in the Homeland. One stew shared across the Homeland is Rubaboo.
Rubaboo is a hearty stew or soup made from meat, vegetables, and water. The earliest record of this cultural dish dates back to the 1800s.
Traditionally, Rubaboo was made of peas or corn with bear or pork and a thickening agent of bread or flour. However, the recipe was adapted from place to place. The meat component, for example, could vary from wild game to fish or rabbit, depending on what the lands and waters provided.
In winter, dried onions or dried fruit could be added to the stew. Maple sugar, which was plentiful due to the long-standing Métis tradition of maple sugaring on Métis River Lots, was another common addition.
Rubaboo is not only about feeding the body but also feeding the soul. As the pot simmers over the fire, delicious aromas fill the home. Métis elders would gather the next generation of young Métis around the fire and share stories of their ancestors, survival, and the land.
This hearty and much-loved stew is often served with bannock and symbolizes the unity and resilience of the Métis people.
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The Joy of Métis Cooking - Métis Nation of Ontario Women’s Council