Taanishi!

Welcome to the March edition of the Lethbridge & Area Métis Association's 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!

Highlights

Volunteer Sign up

Upcoming Community Events

January at a Glance

Our office is open:

Monday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Tuesday (Appointment only)

Wednesday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Friday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

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

With so many rich community events on the horizon for 2025, we are always on the look out for volunteers

Your participation and enthusiasm continue to make our community strong and united.

If you are interested in being added to the volunteer list, please sign up below and provide us a few details about how you would like to participate.

Cultural Programming Opportunities

Do you have cultural knowledge or traditional skills you are interested in sharing? We would love to hear from you and connect you to Knowledge Seekers in the community. You don't have to be an Expert to share your knowledge and skills. Facilitation support is available to assist Knowledge Keepers in sharing our history with the community.

Culture Committee

The culture committee meets once per month to discuss ongoing programs and initiatives. If you would like to join the culture committee please let us know!

If you are interested in hosting a workshop or joining the culture committee please contact us at:

info@lethbridgemetis.com or (403) 328-7828.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement!

Upcoming Community Events

Let's Get Fiddling!

A causal Métis Fiddle Group comes together for music, stories and laughter every second Sunday in West Lethbridge, hosted by Garret Delorme

When: March 2, 16, 30

Where:1035 Canyon Boulevard West, Lethbridge

When: from 2-3:30pm

Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy Traditional Métis Music, History, and Stories while making friendships and connections.

Upcoming Community Programs

Youth Winter Drop-In Program

Join us for the March Youth Drop-In Program as we conclude our Winter session.

We will learn and explore Métis Culture and Traditions with hands-on crafting and activities for school-aged children.

Snacks and refreshments and all craft and activity supplies will be provided.

Parent Supervision Required.

Please Register below.

(Métis) Introductory Language Course (Spring 2025)

Check out this FREE online course of Introductory Michif

6 Week Session Starting April 28

Participants will have the opportunity to delve into the rich Métis heritage and acquire fundamental Michif language skills.

Led by a traditional Michif speaker Marie Schoenthal, this workshop promises an immersive experience that celebrates and preserves Métis culture.

Lethbridge and Area Metis Association are pleased to offer a GROUP option at our office (Suite 1:32 909 3 ave N) for anyone who wishes to participate in a supportive group setting where we can learn and practice together.

*If you would like to participate in a small group setting

please email info@lethbridgemetis.com to register.

Metis History in Southern Alberta

We had an excellent session last month discussing the Battle of the Belly River and the Heritage Management Plan that the City of Lethbridge is developing.

As we move forward with this and other historical Metis information gathering, we want to extend an invitation to you, or friends and family members who might have family stories or oral history about Metis in the region.

We can facilitate one on one or small group sessions either in person or virtually, with people who are willing to share their knowledge. Honoraria will be provided to support information sharing.

Please get in contact with us if you or someone you know has knowledge of the Metis histories within in our region.

Species at Risk

In partnership with the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER), we want to engage our Métis community in education about species at risk and how they are managed in our region. We will be sharing information through virtual or in-person sessions about the initiative, about environmental conservation in Southern Alberta, and especially looking for your perspectives on Species at Risk management through a Metis perspective. Sessions will generally begin with information sharing sessions followed by Focus Groups with those who have input. Focus Group sessions will be supported with honoraria for participants.

If you are interested in learning more about environmental conservation and management, or if you would like to get more involved, please let us know!

Sign up below to be added to our contact list for Species and Risk and environmental initiatives. We will email you with information on our upcoming sessions.

LAMA is making a video about what it means to be Metis! Check out the form to share your ideas or let us know if you want to be a part of the production.

Submission Form

Other Events: Events & Programs by other Organizations

The Rupertsland Institute Mobile Unit will be visiting Lethbridge to extend their Education and Employment Services to Southern Alberta

March 25 9-4pm @ Lethbridge College

March 26 9-4pm @ University of Lethbridge

More Information

Save the Date: Indigenous Awareness Week- March 17-21, 2025

Join the University of Lethbridge as we celebrate the rich cultural heritage, beliefs and aspirations of Indigenous Peoples everywhere. LAMA will be hosting one Metis event this week on campus. Stay tuned for more details!

There are many events planned across campus all week. Everyone is Welcome!

The First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) bursary program provides funding for Indigenous students in the form of a non-repayable bursary if you agree to live and work in northern Alberta for one year of full-time employment in return for each year of bursary support received. Employment must be in your field of studies for which the bursary was provided.

The goal of this bursary is to assist FNMI students to obtain the skills and knowledge to enter or re-enter the workforce in northern Alberta.

Find out more about how the bursary and working in the north can change your life. Click the image to learn more!

More Information

The TELUS Student Bursary provides financial assistance to deserving young people across the country who are committed to giving back in their local communities by taking on a social impact project.

Recipients receive a bursary valued at $3,000 (college) or $5,000 (university) to put toward tuition fees at post-secondary institutions in Canada.

Students who are involved in their communities are given priority. This is a great reason to get involved with LAMA and our community events. If you are interested in volunteering or otherwise, please contact us!

Early applications are given priority, so if you are a student in financial need, apply now!

More Info

Athabasca University is launching a free massive online open course (MOOC) to tackle anti-Indigenous racism in health care. The course teaches about the roots of racism and discrimination Indigenous people experience in accessing care, and the role of advocacy and allyship in addressing these issues.

The courses provide essential knowledge for health-care professionals, but also for anyone who wants to understand the struggles of Indigenous communities and learn how to recognize and confront systemic racism.

AU developed the courses with financial support from Health Canada and in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 Calls to Action. A team led by Indigenous leaders and health professionals worked together to create the course content.

Enroll at AU

February at a Glance

We had so much fun meeting and greeting our educational community members at the SWATCA 2025 Teachers Convention. Thank you to everyone for your interest in what we do and for being open to learning about Métis ways of knowing and learning. We hope to see you in your classrooms soon!

We had a FULL House for the third week of our Métis Youth Drop-In Program.

Kids warmed up with some Jigging, created their very own YARN DOLLS, and played games while learning Stop (pôni) and Start (mâcihtâ) in Michif.

Our 4th Youth Drop-In Program was a BLAST !

Working on Métis Puzzles & Creating our own beautiful Dot Art Creations, while learning about Métis beading and Dot Art history.

Métis Cooking Corner

If you have Traditional Métis Family Recipes you wish to share with us

and for a chance to have them featured in our monthly newsletter, please connect with us at info@lethbridgemetis.com

For More Healthy Traditional Métis Recipes, click the button below.

Metis Cookbook

Métis Minute: Elder Dr. Lloyd Cavers on the Red River Carts

Enjoy a wonderful clip from our Youth Drop-In Program that was included in the morning announcements within the Lethbridge School Division Elementary Schools

Our council is here to serve and support you. Please reach out with any questions or concerns to info@lethbridgemetis.com.

www.lethbridgemetis.com

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