Metis Week celebrations begin at MHC
Celebrating the unique culture of the Métis people, Medicine Hat College (MHC) is hosting several free events throughout Nov. 13-17, for its second annual Métis Week.Nicki Eastly, Indigenous student specialist, says many community members and MHC students are Métis and this week is an important way to connect them with their history and identity.
“We celebrate Métis Week because we want to honour the different Indigenous cultures and celebrate their differences. This week, we'll demonstrate the food, music, dance, and artwork that is different and unique to Métis culture, while providing an opportunity for our students to come out and learn and be celebrated.”
The first celebration of the week begins on Monday, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m., with a traditional kitchen party, in which community is invited to enjoy traditional food, live music and a dance. There will also be a Louis Riel re-enactment taking place at the event.
For those interested in learning new skills, a craft circle will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 14, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., where participants will learn to make wool mittens, made from the same material as the traditional Métis capote. On Wednesday, Nov. 15, Elder Marie Schoenthal will be leading a Michif language workshop from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Registration is required for both the craft circle and language workshop.
The week’s celebrations will end with an Indigenous artisan holiday market on Friday, Nov. 17 between 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., supporting local Indigenous artists and artisans. Traditional bison stew and bannock will also be available for purchase to raise funds for the Firekeepers Women’s Society.
All Métis Week events are free to attend, open to the community, and are held in MHC’s Ómahksípiitaa, or Big Eagle. For more information or to register, please email Nicki at neastly@mhc.ab.ca.