St. Albert, a few kilometres north of Edmonton, is one of the largest and most history-rich Métis settlements in Canada. To learn more of this history and culture, the University of Alberta Libraries’ Indigenous initiatives put on a staff training event on November 1, in partnership with the Michif Cultural Connections and the Musée Héritage Museum.
Highlights of the morning included a personal tour with Sharon Morin and Josh Morin of the Michif Cultural Connections building, library collection, and artifacts. Celina Loyer, an expert in traditional cultural knowledge of the Treaty 6, Métis Region 4 area, gave us a beginners’ workshop on finger weaving.
Afterwards, we took the Founder’s Walk through downtown St. Albert, crossing the bridge to view the Musée Héritage Museum. We warmed cold fingers and toes at the St. Albert historic grain elevators while lunching on beef barley vegetable soup and fresh bannock.
The final steps of the journey took us to River Lots 23 and 24 to view original family homes, new community gardens, and a burgeoning food forest.
Thanks go to Kayla Lar-Son [BA Honours Native Studies, MLIS, Indigenous Academic Resident UAL], for organizing such an informative and remarkable day.
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