Local Métis planning party and potluck Saturday

By Troy Bannerman - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on January 11, 2023.

Lethbridge’s Métis are coming together this weekend to share fellowship with the wider community at their annual New Year’s Party and Potluck.

For Saturday from 3 – 7pm at Westminster Community Centre, Lethbridge and Area Métis are organizing the party and potluck. Turkey and ham will be provided, but they request guests bring a side, salad, or dessert.

The event is open to the public and in addition to food, there will be activity tables for kids to learn about Métis dot art, live music, and display tables showing Métis paraphernalia. There will also be space for dancing.

For the Métis, New Year’s has traditionally been the most significant holiday. Families and neighbours would gather together at a predetermined house, everyone would bring food, bannock, jams, dried or roasted wild meat, and chokecherry wine (Saturday’s event is dry). All the furniture would be taken out of the kitchen and living room to make space for dancing and socializing. A few of the men would bring their fiddles, and later guitars as well. The dancing would start before the food was finished and the parties would often last until the sun came up.

As space is limited, the Métis Local has requested that interested persons register by email to info@lethbridgemetis.com.