Rich Francis stars as first Native contestant on Top Chef Canada

Rich Francis on the first episode of Top Chef Canada, Season 4.

Rich Francis is making history as the first Native contestant to appear on Top Chef Canada.

Francis is the owner of Aboriginal Culinary Concepts. He grew up in the Northwest Territories -- his father is Tetlit Gwich'in. His mother is Tuscarora from the Six Nations in Ontario.

"My dream is to take Aboriginal cuisine mainstream," Francis said on the opening episode of the show's fourth season in which he impressed the judges early on but faced criticism by the end.

Top Chef Canada airs every Monday on Food Network Canada. Online episodes can be streamed to viewers based in Canada.

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