Métis Experience shines light on cultural traditions at Fort Whoop-Up

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on July 16, 2022.

Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman Kelsey Delamarter and Abbilynn Thom talk with Métis Elder Roderick McLeod about the different items on display during the Métis Experience Friday at Fort Whoop-Up.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

Fort Whoop-Up offered visitors a Métis Experience Friday, where people were able to learn about their culture, artifacts and history from Métis Elder Roderick McLeod.

Fort Whoop-Up site coordinator Abbilynn Thom said the Métis Experience is an opportunity for visitors at Fort Whoop-Up to encounter Métis culture through hands-on activities, storytelling and history shared by local members of the Métis Nation.

“We’re really just wanting to create an experience that is meaningful and memorable to people surrounding Métis history,” said Thom.

The experience Friday consisted of a display of artifacts that Elder McLeod had brought to the Fort in hopes of creating conversation with those in attendance.

“I’m here to answer any questions that anyone has about any of my artifacts on my display, or anything about Métis history I might know,” said McLeod.

Some of the items on display included gauntlets, tobacco pouches, Blackfoot and Métis moccasins to showcase their differences, musical instruments, beading designs and a couple of beaded jackets, among many other items.

“Métis beading is more floral and organic looking, whereas Blackfoot beading is more geometric looking,” explained Thom who is Métis herself.

She said she had a nice talk with Elder McLeod about his family, where he came from and who they were actually related to down that line.

Thom explained that different days have different Métis Experiences.

“Other experiences that we have going on are dot art, beading, and stick weaving so this one is not as hands on today, but most of them are more hands-on experiences,” said Thom.

She said the Métis Experiences will take place until Aug. 26.

“I was really excited to host this event because it makes learning about my culture more accessible and provides a platform to share how the Métis lived,” said Thom.

Métis knowledge keeper for the local Métis since 2003, Cindy Lemley echoed her excitement.

“The nice thing is that the Fort is giving us this opportunity to share our culture,” said Lemley.

She was in attendance at the Métis Experience Friday to continue learning from Elder McLeod who she said always teaches her something new through his stories.

“I love to listen to the history he teaches us because I learn something new every day, every time I talk to him, he teaches me something. I also love his stories, he has so many stories and histories that unfortunately we are losing in our culture because there’s nobody around to tell them,” said Lemley.

A local elementary school teacher who identifies herself as Métis, Lisa Clark, attended the Métis Experience to learn more about her culture and to be able to take that knowledge back to her classroom.

“There’s lots of things I want to know more about. Being Métis, lots of members of my family are doing that process right now, sort of reclaiming and coming back and finding out more,” said Clark.

She said she enjoyed talking to Elder McLeod and hearing about his own personal family history and his vast knowledge of many different stories.

Clark said that as a teacher, she learned that when you want to know more about any kind of Indigenous knowledge you are not going to get it in a small document, and you are not going to get it in one session. You are going to listen to stories multiple times, in many different ways, from different perspectives.

“That’s how you’re going to soak up the knowledge. It has to be soaked up, not just checked off a list, so that’s why I’m here, I want more soaking up,” said Clark.

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