This is a special time for us to honour and showcase the rich and diverse histories, cultures, and contributions of all Indigenous peoples in Canada. We invite everyone to join us in reflecting on the resilience, strength, and achievements of our communities. We hope that this month will serve as an opportunity to deepen our understanding of Indigenous cultures and histories and to promote awareness and respect for our people. Together, let us celebrate the unique and beautiful diversity of Indigenous peoples including First Nation, Inuit, and Métis, and continue to work towards building a better future for all. 💙

This is a special time for us to honor and uplift our 2SLGBTQ+ siblings, cousins, and friends. We stand with them in solidarity and love, and we recognize the unique struggles and barriers that they may face. 💙

We want to remind everyone that we must continue to promote acceptance, understanding, and inclusion for all members of our community. Our 2SLGBTQ+ relatives deserve to feel safe, respected, and loved every day of the year. Happy Pride, everyone! Let us continue to celebrate diversity and embrace the beauty of our differences.

Join us in learning how to make a Ribbon Skirt in High Prairie. All materials and lunch will be provided at this free event and there are a limited number of spots available. Taking place at the Legion Branch #37, in High Prairie on Sunday, June 11, 2023.

We are thrilled to celebrate National Indigenous People's Day! This is a day to honor and recognize the rich and diverse cultures, histories, and achievements of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. We invite everyone to join us in participating in the local events and activities that have been organized to mark this occasion. 🎉 While National Indigenous Peoples Day is on June 21, 2023, we will be celebrating this year on June 17th, 2023!

When: Saturday, June 17, 2023 | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm

𝗔𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗲́𝘁𝗶𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸! 🎉

Join the fun on June 23 - 24 at the Cultural Gathering Centre Métis Crossing. Two action-packed days of Métis celebration including a homeland hour, Indigenous fashion show, jigging competition, artisan market, and more!



As this is an MNA event, please contact them directly at [email protected] for more information.

🌱 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗯𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀! 🌿✨

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming unveiling of our community garden, and we're inviting YOU to be a part of this incredible project! 🌼🥕🍅

Let's sow the seeds of the community together and watch our garden grow into a thriving, vibrant space that nourishes not only our bodies but also our souls. Together, we can make our neighborhood blossom with beauty, unity, and shared experiences. 🌻🌿💕 For more information, please contact the office at [email protected]

Our Consultation Coordinator, Walter Andreef, has updated that there will be some new Caribou Wildlife Cameras that will be installed, north of Wabasca, as they continue to monitor the presence of caribou in our region. The Caribou are a species at risk.

On May 15, 2023, the Government of Canada announced a new program Towards a 2030 BioDiversity Strategy for Canada. There is a requirement for Indigenous people and groups in our region to undertake an online survey seeking people's views and perspectives to inform the Government of Canada's Biodiversity Strategy.

What is very special about our region is we have highlands, lowlands, lakes, marshes, hills/martin mountains, and boreal. 

𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴? 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗪𝗶𝗻 𝗮 $𝟮𝟱𝟬 𝗖𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗮'𝘀 𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱! Take part in our Askîy Fish Health Community Monitoring Program by filling out our three forms (fishing trip, fish measurement & health, and palatability) when you get back from your fishing trip. 🎣

To show our appreciation, we’ll be awarding prizes to MNA Citizens who submit forms May 15-August 31, 2023. Grand prizes of $250 Cabela’s gift cards will be awarded for each category (fishing trip, fish measurement & health, and palatability), so make sure to submit all your forms!

All Citizens who participate will also receive a small token of our appreciation. Draws will be held, and all prizes distributed in September 2023.

𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆? 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲. 

Join our Community Wellness team for Diabetes Journey Wellness Information Sessions hosted by OKAKI Diabetes Virtual Care Clinic. Topics include: beginning your diabetes journey, navigating the risks, mapping your medications, and the path to healthy living. ♾️💙

BEADED HOOP EARRINGS

June 11, 2023

𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗽 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 This workshop will be facilitated by local Metis Artist and Business owner Chana Trudel. 💙♾️

All supplies are provided along with lunch and refreshments. Join us in learning how to make your own pair of Beaded Hoop Earrings. Lunch will be provided and served at noon. MNA members only. Please sign up via Google form or directly through Kelsey. 

𝙇𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 S𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚 | 𝙍𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙏𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮  

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: Sunday, June 11, 2023 

𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲: Region 5 Métis Office in Slave Lake

Please feel free to bring a parent, guardian, or friend with you to this event. 💙

YOUTH PAINT NIGHT

June 20, 2023

We are so excited to announce a Youth Paint Night, we will be painting a northern lights theme with acrylic paints on a canvas!

Pizza and snacks and supplies will be provided.

𝙇𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚 | 𝙍𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙏𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮  

𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲: Region 5 Métis Youth Ages 12-29

Youth under 18 may bring a friend or guardian with them 

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: Tuesday, June 20, 2023

𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: Starts at 6:30 pm

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲: Métis Region 5 Office

REGION 5 YOUTH CULTURE CAMP

July 24-28, 2023

Get ready for a fully inclusive campout with cultural activities, outdoor land-based teachings, and more! 🏕️ This camp will be overnight stays at the designated campground and include activities such as, but not limited to hand drums, outdoor survival education, traditional plant learning, outdoor orienteering, fishing education, and more!

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: July 24 to July 28, 2023

𝗪𝗵𝗼: Ages 12 to 29 

𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟰-𝟮𝟴! ♾️💙

More information to come! If you are interested in attending please contact the Region 5 office at 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝟱@𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘀.𝗼𝗿𝗴 ♾️

REACH FOR THE SKY PROGRAM BY LES FEMMES MICHIF OTIPEMISIWAK

We are looking for young, adult Métis women from across the Motherland, 18 to 30 years old, who are interested in becoming our trained Métis leaders of tomorrow

The Reach for the Sky program is a 30-hour/week for 18-weeks, metis women leadership training that provides on-the-land cultural teachings, online academic instruction, and job-shadow mentorship positions.

MEET OUR REGION 5 COMMUNICATION

TRULY CREATIVE MARKETING

Over the last few editions of our email newsletter "The Riel Scoop," we have introduced our Region 5 Team that are all in our office. Now we will be focusing on our support teams, volunteers, and local citizen features in Region 5. Let's start off by introducing the all-women, Indigenous, Métis operated and owned marketing agency Truly Creative Marketing that works with us to deliver our programs and services to our Métis citizens.

The Region 5 team is thrilled to be working with the wonderful Métis team at Truly Creative Marketing (TCM) for our marketing and communication needs. The team at TCM is proud of their Métis heritage and it shows as they work together and take special care with our communications. The lovely ladies at TCM deliver this email newsletter (The Riel Scoop) to our Region 5 citizens each month, create posters, custom logos, the beaded graphics used in our marketing, custom promotional imprinted items like our MMIW t-shirts and bags, manage our social media channels and create all of our Region 5 social media content!

If you have a business or know someone in need, these are the ladies to see! This indigenous marketing agency offers website design, logo design, professional branding, social media management, social media content, and more! Check them out online:

TH CEO & MARKETING SPECIALIST: CHANA TRUDEL

My name is Chana (pronounced Shawna), and I'm so excited to meet you and welcome you to our social feed. I am the Owner, CEO, and Marketing Specialist behind Truly Creative Marketing. We are truly proud to be an all women, Indigenous, Métis team! ♾️

I have over twelve years of marketing experience in which I have worked with some amazing clients and created some amazing results! 📈 I am a proud to be a Cree Métis woman who was born and mostly raised in Slave Lake. Orignally my family is the Hedin family which stems from Hamelins, Augers, Cardinals, Desjarlais, and Feduniw.

My favorite part about my job is meeting new clients and reigniting their love for their businesses through digital marketing. I love getting business owners excited about their work again by showing them how much potential they have by easily working with Truly Creative Marketing 💙

When I'm not working, I'm spending time with my 4-year-old son Theo, my husband Mathieu, and our pets 💙 You would usually find me enthralled in a new creative art project (I have a lot!), playing a board game, beading, at the beach, or watching the latest geeky show in my free time. Yes, I am a total geek when it comes to Marvel, Dr. Who, Star Wars, Disney, Beading, crafting, creating, my indigenous Metis & Cree culture, and marketing! Whatever you do... just don't let me loose at a craft store! 👀🤷‍♀️

I love to reconnect business owners to their clients again through digital marketing! Small business owners should never feel alone in this entrepreneurial journey. I'm here for you and I'll be your biggest cheerleader! Your success makes my heart proud! I cannot wait to bring your vision of your business to life 💙

MARKETING INTERN: PAIGE BELLERIVE

Introducing the newest addition to our Truly Creative Marketing team, Paige Bellerive! 🌟 Paige graduated from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in 2017 with a Visual Communications Diploma. Throughout her educational journey, she honed her artistic, and creative skills, delved into the world of technology, and reconnected with her Métis heritage.

On her path to personal and professional growth, Paige had the incredible opportunity to participate in the second Reach For the Sky program, organized by Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak. Through this program, she formed lifelong friendships, cherished memories, and acquired invaluable leadership skills.

When Paige isn't hard at work, you can find her immersed in her passion for creating comics, making a positive impact by volunteering at the local animal shelter, enjoying video games, traveling to different nerd conventions, hiking, and spending quality time with her adorable furbaby Jasper, or experimenting with delicious new recipes.

MARKETING INTERN: KATHARINE GUTOWSKI

While our wonderful Marketing Intern Katharine would not like a full feature, we want to be sure to include her as she is an integral part of the TCM team!

We were so proud to be able to gather some of our amazing elders over the weekend for our first-ever Region 5 Métis Elders Retreat. We had a fantastic turnout, with many guests joining in on the fun and adding to the excitement at the beautiful Métis Crossing in Smoky Lake.

We want to give a big thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to the success of this unforgettable retreat! We can't wait to do another! Thank you to our Region 5 Team, Council, Facilitators, and Metis Crossing for putting together a wonderful weekend!



𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘀! From January to May, a remarkable total of 940 grocery cards have been provided to support our community. 😌💙

In addition, we are delighted to inform you that 217 Utility Relief Cheques have been sent out to assist. It fills our hearts with joy to be able to offer this assistance to our Region.



We are truly grateful for the opportunity to provide help and support to our community. Together, we are making a positive difference in the lives of our fellow citizens! 💙♾️💙

HONOURING OUR MMIW

May 05, 2023

We were so proud and grateful to be able to gather to support and honour our Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women. ❤️ 

Thank you to our amazing speakers, and musicians who helped make the day special and impactful! Thank you Shirley Wolfe, Lorna Yellowknee, Lena Daniels, and Simon Beaver! We are thankful to take a break during our day to join in the MMIW Walk hosted by our friends at the Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre.

It was a beautiful day, surrounded by beautiful people, spent remembering our MMIW while bringing awareness to our community. Thank you for joining us

Kelsey, our Region 5 Youth Coordinator, went to RMSS last week to give a 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲́𝘁𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿'𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗠𝗲́𝘁𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵! 🎓♾️

Click the photo below to learn more about the history of the Métis Sash.

We're thrilled to share that our 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸 event was a tremendous success, and we hope it was a healing experience for all who attended! 🌿✨

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for a day of enlightenment and exploration alongside cultural educator Natalie Pepin, as we delved into the world of traditional medicines. Together, we celebrated our rich cultural heritage and deepened our understanding of the healing wisdom passed down through generations.

Take a look at some of our favorite photos from this last month featured on our Facebook and Instagram accounts. Click on the images below to View Larger and Read Captions on our social media.



The images below are each a different program, service, or support for all Métis citizens from the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA). Click on the images below to Learn More about each one.