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Taanishi!
Welcome to the June 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!
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Highlights
Meet our New Staff
Upcoming June Community Events
May at a Glance
Metis Cooking Corner
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Our office is open:
Monday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Tuesday 1:00 PM to 4:00PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Thursday 1:00PM to 4:00PM
Friday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
To reach us outside of office hours, please contact info@lethbridgemetis.com
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Call for Volunteers
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
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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!
| | Meet Our Newest Team Member! | | | |
Murphy Borthwick
Administrative Assistant
Taanishi!
My name is Murphy Borthwick, and I just joined the Lethbridge and Area Métis Association team as an administrative assistant. I am a recent graduate from the University of Lethbridge, where I studied Psychology, as well as Philosophy and Political Science. I have lived in Lethbridge my whole life, and I am looking forward to working closely with the people here and growing professionally. I love coffee, animals, and going on road trips with my partner.
I’m excited to connect with my Métis heritage in this position and meet everyone in the community. My family and I were isolated from our culture for many years, and it’s been rewarding to uncover the past and reconnect with our people and our history.
I can’t wait to share my skills and smile with everyone here, as well as out and about!
Maarsii for your support!
| | | 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. This will be the final meeting for the summer, more details to come for future meetings.
When: June 8, 2025
Where: 1035 Canyon Boulevard West, Lethbridge
When: from 2-3:30pm + BBQ
Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy Traditional Métis Music, History, and Stories while making friendships and connections.
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(Métis) Introductory Language Course (Spring 2025)
Check out this FREE online course of Introductory Michif
6 Week Session (2 Weeks remaining!)
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 Métis Association are pleased to offer an IN-PERSON (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.
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Metis Senior Meet Up
Friday, June 13 from 1PM-3PM, we will be hosting a drop-in at the LSCO diner (500- 11 Street S.) for connection and fellowship with our seniors! Snacks and drinks provided.
No registration necessary! Just come and enjoy yourself with our community.
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National Indigenous Peoples Day
Come visit us at Galt Gardens for National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21. There are a variety of things happening around the city, including Galt Gardens and the Library. Look out for Indigenous tacos, performances, kids activities, round dances, and more!
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On Sunday, June 22, we will be hosting a barbecue in recognition of our 2025 graduates' academic achievements! We want to acknowledge our highschool and post-secondary grads from Lethbridge and the surrounding communities. Join us in sharing good food and good company in the beautiful Lethbridge river bottom at the Elk's Compound. All are welcome to come and celebrate with us. Free to attend but registrations are encouraged so we can better plan to host you and your families!
Please RSVP by following the link below!
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Do you use the land around Southern Alberta for harvesting, hunting, trapping, or other traditional land uses? We want to hear from you! LAMA is collecting information on contemporary usage of the land for the purpose of environmental conservation and protection. Understanding how our people use the land can help us to advise government and other policy makers on how to best protect lands and resources for generations to come.
If you are interested in sharing your experiences with contemporary land usage, please sign up below and we will contact you when we schedule a group session.
| | 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. | | |
Join us in crafting leather coasters under the expert direction of the talented folks at The Populess Company in Downtown Lethbridge!
We are so excited to be hosting this workshop on June 9, from 5:30PM-8:30PM. Open to all LAMA members over the age of 18, we welcome you to come try your hand at leatherwork!
Follow the link below for more information and to save your space. Please note that this workshop will have limited space, so register early! Tickets are $10 per person.
| | Upcoming Events Through Other Organizations | | Prairie Species at Risk Recovery Update Workshop | | |
The Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER) and Environment and Climate Change Canada – Canadian Wildlife Service (ECCC - CWS) invite you to participate in their upcoming workshop! It will be held virtually (online) on June 11 at 10 AM.
If you are interested in attending, please click the button below to register. Optionally, if you would prefer to attend as a group, at our office, let us know at info@lethbridgemetis.com
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The Hills are Alive Music & Culture Fest
From June 12 to June 15, Miywasin Friendship Centre in Medicine Hat is hosting a Métis music and culture festival, offering the opportunity to learn instruments, dance, and craft! You can register for a single day or the entire weekend. LAMA can help with financial reimbursements for families with school aged children.
Click below for more information or to register!
| | | |  | Kyle McKearney's Acoustic Set | | Thank you to everyone to joined us in Solidarity to support of Red Dress Day as we honoured MMIW (Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women). It was truly inspiring to see all of our community members come together for such an important cause. | | It was an honour to sit down with Kyle McKearney, a Metis award-winning Musician, to share music and stories during the private Acoustic Set for the Lethbridge Metis before his Sold Out Show in Lethbridge. | | Beading Workshop with Chinook Winds Beading | | At the end of the month, we made beaded spring brooches with Kelly from Chinook Winds Beading. It was great to sit down and learn how to make beautiful traditional art. Thank you to Kelly for all her help! | | |
Congratulations to our Metis graduates from Holy Spirit School Division.
Graduation marks not the conclusion, but the vibrant unfolding of your educated potential. Go forth and grow! A huge thank you to Holy Spirit for your thoughtful and intentional inclusion of Metis values and customs in your Feather Blessing.
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La Pouchine
This Métis dessert translates to "pudding in a bag", and can be modified to taste with different fruits! Mawzh shaenmawk (eat right away)!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of lard (or beef suet, chopped finely)
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup of currants
1 teaspoon pastry spice
2 cups of flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup of milk
- Mix flour, salt, and baking powder together. Cut the lard into the flour with a pastry blender or a fork until incorporated. Add in your raisins and currants (or whichever fruit of choice). Add sugar and milk. Mix until just combined and no flour streaks remain. Do not overmix.
- Prepare a pudding cloth (or a pudding bag big enough to hold 6 cups) by wetting it and flouring. You can use any undyed muslin or cotton cloth that is a minimum of 20” by 24”. Fill it with the dough and gather at the top. Tie it off with butcher’s twine and leave two inches space for the pudding to expand.
- Place the sack in a deep pot of simmering water and cover. The water should be deep enough to fully cover the pudding when submerged. The excess cloth can stick out from the water. Cover and simmer for 2 ½ to 3 hours.
- Try not to check on it too much – lifting the lid will let heat and steam escape. Don’t be surprised – it will float after the first hour!
- In the last ten minutes prepare the sauce.
Sauce:
1/2 cup of sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup boiling water
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Mix sugar, water, and butter in a small sauce pan over medium heat with a whisk. Make a slurry with the cornstarch and a few tablespoons of cold water.
- When the sugar is melted, whisk in the vanilla extract and slurry. Make sure to keep whisking! Cook until the sauce thickens slightly. It will be a very thin sauce.
- Carefully remove the pudding from the pot and place on a plate. Let it sit a few minutes before unwrapping and removing the pudding cloth for washing. Try not to burn your fingers, it stays quite hot!
- Cut and serve with the sauce or any syrup you prefer.
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Our council is here to serve and support you. Please reach out with any questions or concerns to info@lethbridgemetis.com. | | How did you like this email? | | | | | | |
