Two sisters open Red Willow Café in Serpent River First Nation

By Leslie Knibbs

SERPENT RIVER FIRST NATION – Brenda Meawasige and Myra Southwind are two sisters living in Serpent River First Nation (SRFN) who had a dream to open their own restaurant. Earlier this year, the sisters decided they wanted to do something that brings them joy and happiness as well as create a livable income for themselves, and do something they did.

Frustration was always rearing its ugly head when they were looking for dependable employment; it had taken them to the brink. They’d had enough.  So, what could they do to make the dream of having their own business happen? Well, they both loved cooking, especially for others. And what could be better than providing one of the basic needs for everyone? Food is perhaps one of the few items that is not just a need but also a want. After weighing up all the pros and cons of opening a restaurant, the pair decided that the odds were in their favour so they’d go for it. Red Willow was soon to become a reality for the two sisters.

“Well, we were both out of work and thinking of something to do, we both love cooking, we’ve always cooked, I enjoyed cooking at Geka with my mother Geraldine Meawasige,” Brenda said.

Myra and her mom Elaine Southwind worked the pow wow trail as a food vendor for a decade or so from the Sault to Sudbury. She honed her cooking skills on the trail working with her mother, so they both had the know-how. They were enthusiastic about the idea and neither was afraid of the hard work it would take to run their own business.

The sisters agreed it was time to create their own jobs. With necessity being the mother of invention, Brenda and Myra set their sights on creating their own job as well as realizing a dream they both had. On April 18, they opened the Red Willow Café. Their need for steady and reliable employment unleashed their need to be the real creators, which broke the pair free from relying on others for employment.

With a keen business sense Brenda and Myra knew they would have to start small and avoid the pitfalls of borrowing money for start-up. According to Brenda, keeping the costs down would inevitably lead to growth of the business. For now, the restaurant is take-out only but plans are in the works to set up a diner with an outdoor patio in the near future. Keeping their menu small with a select group of offerings will make things easier when starting up they both said. On opening-day, the menu consisted of a fried chicken dinner and burgers and fries with refreshments.

“We plan to have a trailer, and the trailer will have patio seating and a dine inside restaurant. We’ll be open whenever the public wants us open. Our menu is burger and fries for now and breakfast. The scone will be introduced into most of our dishes, but not all, we will have healthy homemade foods. Our lunch menu will include two or three different soups and sandwiches. We’ve been asked to do a little bit of catering. We’re not doing deliveries though; customers must pick up the food,” Myra said.

A tour of the Red Willow kitchen showed a bright room with all the necessary equipment in a highly functional and spotlessly clean environment. The sisters have organized the kitchen with a tidy work-station for all dishes; however, once the trailer and outdoor patio are in place, renovations and expansion of the kitchen will take place.

Meeting with the two sisters was a joy in itself, the enthusiasm and happiness they displayed was a testament to the welcoming sign to Serpent River First Nation, which states the community is a place of a warm and caring community. The two ladies operating the Red Willow Café exemplify this in a big way. The Red Willow can be reached at 705-2981554 and on Facebook.