Taanishi!

Welcome to the February edition of the Lethbridge & Area Métis Association newsletter!

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in making our community vibrant and welcoming.



We hope to see you at our next event!

Hours of Operation

Our office is open:



Monday 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Tuesday 10AM to 4:30 PM

Wednesday 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Thursday 10AM to 4:30 PM

Friday 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM

To reach us outside of office hours, please contact info@lethbridgemetis.com

*Note: these hours are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances*

Volunteer and Community Participation Opportunities

February Upcoming Events and Information

Garrett Delorme and Monique Giroux are co-hosting a casual Métis Fiddle Group that gathers for music, stories, and laughter every first and third Sunday of the month. Garrett will host on the first Sunday February 1 at 1035 Canyon Blvd W, and Monique will host on the third Sunday February 15th at 718 17th St S. Both sessions run from 2:00 PM to around 4:00 PM.

Come share in the joy of fiddle music — all are welcome!

Métis Seniors Tea – February 13th



Join us at our office from 1:00PM–3:00PM on Friday Feb. 13th, for a warm, welcoming afternoon of visiting, refreshments, and community connection.

February Events in the Community

Family Ties Reading Week Youth Camp!

A fun, engaging, and affordable youth camp for just $10 during Reading Week.

A special highlight this year will be the opportunity for youth to experience and learn from Indigenous activities and teachings, shared in a respectful and meaningful way. It’s a chance to connect, create, and celebrate together.

We’d love to see you there!

SWATCA 2026

We’re excited to be returning to the SWATCA Teachers’ Convention on February 19–20, 2026, hosted at the University campus. If you’re an educator in the area, be sure to stop by our table — we’d love to connect with you!

January in Review

Charlotte's New Moccasins Book Reading and Moccasin Making

We were delighted to welcome Métis author Jenn Moudahi and her family in January for an exciting reading of her beautiful new children’s book, Charlotte’s New Moccasins.

The kids had the chance to create their own mini moccasin keychains, while younger participants practiced their stitches using yarn and cardstock versions. The room was full of proud smiles, focused little makers, and so many charming creations.

It was a truly joyful gathering, and we’re grateful to everyone who joined us.

Seniors’ Gathering



 We genuinely love catching up with our seniors — the stories, the laughs, the “you won’t believe what happened this week” moments. This little crew of ours is always growing, always welcoming, and always up for good company. If you’ve been thinking about coming out, take this as your gentle nudge. We’d be so happy to have you at the next one!

Youth Drop In

We kicked off our first youth drop‑in of the season with cookie‑and‑cocoa jars, canvas beading projects, and a whole lot of laughter. the perfect way to start things off!

Now we’re getting excited for February, when we’ll dive into the Seven Sacred Teachings through dot art. We’ll explore where dot art comes from, why it’s meaningful in Métis culture, and of course, have fun creating our own pieces.

This session will also warm us up for spring, when we’ll continue learning together about traditional medicines in a gentle, youth‑friendly way — and maybe even try growing a few of our own. We can’t wait to keep creating, learning, and exploring with everyone.

New Year Party 2026!

What an amazing night! Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with us — from the delicious feast to the incredible musical talents, lively jigging, and all the fun in between. We loved seeing so many familiar faces, and we were thrilled to welcome lots of new ones too.



We’re excited to keep that energy going throughout the year as we host more programs, gatherings, and community events. Can’t wait to see everyone again soon!

Message from Elder Alice,

Tansi/Hello everyone,

I wanted to extend my thanks and gratitude to everyone who came to the hospital, sent flowers, sent prayers and supported my family through a very difficult time.

The Doctors and staff at Chinook Regional Hospital saved my life, I am totally indebted to them and their expertise.

There will never be enough words to convey the feelings I have for each and everyone of you who gave me hope and encouragement even when I was not myself.

May our Creator and Father watch over you and keep you safe. I also wanted to thank Council for the lovely hot meal that was sent to our home, it was hot and it was delicious. Thanks again everyone. I know why I am so proud to be Metis, it is because of such strong connections we can share with each other. Truly amazing.



To our lovely and generous Elder, Alice Bissonnette...

Elder Alice has generously supported Julien Todd on his educational journey toward becoming an architect. She shared how proud she is to have watched Julien grow up within our community, and how meaningful it is to see him now, as a young Métis professional, sharing his knowledge around the world at Indigenous‑focused events in design and architecture.

Julien was deeply grateful for the chance to visit with Alice while he was home from the University of Toronto for the holidays.

Kishchi Maarsii, Alice.