Chasity Cairns, manager of Indigenous engagement and student support at Medicine Hat College (Photo Courtesy Ross Lavigne)

By Prina Atwal

Medicine Hat College celebrates Metis week

Nov 14, 2022 | 4:08 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Medicine Hat College is celebrating its first Metis Week to honour one of the three recognized Indigenous peoples in Canada, and this event will celebrate their culture and history.

Chasity Cairns, manager of Indigenous engagement and student support at Medicine Hat College says there is a lot of significance.

“One of the big things is because we have this new beautiful Indigenous space. It is a community space, and so a lot of our population, Indigenous population, here in Medicine Hat aren’t from here, they’re from somewhere else. And so Medicine Hat College Indigenous students, more than half are actually Metis, and so I thought it was a good way to bring community in, so students can learn, get to know the community, people in the community, and also, so they can connect to their culture as well.”

Activities began today and there is more to come.

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“From 4-6 {this afternoon} we are going to have basic beading because Metis people are known as the flower-beaded people, we are recognized for our beadwork, so we are going to teach community, students, and faculty the basics to start beading,” says Cairns.

“And then tomorrow night from 4-6 we are going to have Hudson Bay mitten making … it’s a good start to learn, if you want to learn how to sew … so we are actually going to make the mitten, the wool mittens, so people can learn how to do the blanket stitch. And then Thursday night is the big grand finale.”

The grand finale will consist of a Bannock-making contest, artisan vendors, a Chinook band, and Metis Jigging and Sash dance demonstrations.