Unique Flying Dust restaurant wins 2018 Aboriginal Business award

Nothing brings people together quite like food. This was one of the founding principles of Miss. J’s Donairs and Eatery on Flying Dust First Nation near Meadow Lake, and a big reason the business was the recipient of this year’s Aboriginal Business Award from the Meadow Lake Business Excellence awards.

The restaurant has been open just under a year, and co-owner Glenda Wuttunee credited its success to a supportive community, unique menu, and prime location. Even still, she said she was astonished by the award.

“I was surprised when I heard that we did win,” she said. “But, in a small way, I’m not surprised because we’ve put a lot of hard work into this, my daughter and I. The end of April will be a year since we’ve opened.”

The restaurant is housed in the original band office on the First Nation, and Wuttunee said her family informally served meals out of the facility for years. Last year, they combined the resources they had, without grants or loans, and decided to serve donairs. Their clientele includes employees from the mills on the outskirts of the city, Meadow Lakers and Flying Dust residents.

“Little did we know how much Meadow Lake people were going to love donairs,” she said. “It’s been a hit. The support has been overwhelming, but I think it’s the heart of the business and people preparing the food that matters. It’s a lot of work, but I’m so happy to be able to serve people good food. People say they appreciate the home-cooked feel.”

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Wuttunee and Wilcox have also been offering catering lately, and are feeling positive about how business has evolved in such a short time and how it seems to be bringing people together.

“It’s good because I’ve had so many people from our community here, Flying Dust, that have come in and hadn’t seen each other in years,” Wuttunee said. “They come in and end up having a visit and it’s a real positive thing.”

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca  

On Twitter @ReporterKath