Canada has a complicated relationship with alcohol and Indigenous communities. For decades, alcohol was used as a political tool against First Nations: bans, control laws, reservation policies. For many communities, obtaining their own license was legally nearly impossible, let alone operating a brewery. That has changed. Five breweries show what has emerged since then
First Beer on First Nations Territory
The Kahnawake Brewing Company, south of Montréal, is considered Canada’s first Indigenous brewery on First Nations territory. Kahnawake is a Mohawk territory in southern Québec, right on the city limits of Montréal. The brewery places Mohawk culture at the heart of its operations. Beer names, labels, events: everything relates to the community that has inhabited this territory for centuries.
History in Bottles
On Manitoulin Island in Ontario, the world’s largest freshwater island, the Manitoulin Brewing Company has been in operation since 2015. The beer names reference local landmarks and the island’s history. Manitoulin Island has been a settlement of the Anishinaabe peoples for centuries.
Lager, Ale and Bannock
In Saskatoon, Minihkwe Brewery opened as Saskatchewan’s first Indigenous brewery. They brew lagers and ales. They also host cultural events, such as bannock events, named after the flatbread that is a staple in many Indigenous cultures across North America.
Gose from British Columbia
Ravens Brewing Company in Abbotsford specializes in brewing Gose, the beer style that originated in Goslar, Germany. The ingredients for the award-winning sour beers come from the region. Paul and Jocelyn Sweeting (photo), both of Indigenous descent, founded the brewery.
From Their Own Land
Locality Brewing in Langley, British Columbia, is a Métis-owned farm-brewery. They grow their own grains and hops. What goes into the bottle grows just a few meters away—including the fruits and nuts that are occasionally used. And the honey for the honey beer is produced by their own bees.
Photo: Ravens Brewing @ Instagram - Screenshot from May 27, 2025:
