Métis Resources

Journals

Pawaatamihk: Journal of Métis Thinkers

Books – Non-fiction

Belcourt, Christi. Medicine to Help Us: Traditional Métis Plant Use. Saskatoon, SK: The Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research, 2007.

Campbell, Maria. Half-Breed. Halifax, NS: Formac, 1973.

Fiola, Chantal. Rekindling the Sacred Fire. Winnipeg, MB: University of Manitoba Press, 2015.

Fiola, Chantal. Returning to Ceremony: Spirituality in Manitoba Métis Communities. Winnipeg, MB: University of Manitoba Press, 2021.

Forsythe, Laura and Jennifer Markides, eds. Around the Kitchen Table: Métis Aunties’ Scholarship. Winnipeg, MB: University of Manitoba Press, forthcoming 2024.

Ghostkeeper, Elmer. Spirit Gifting. Raymond, AB: Writing on Stone Press, 2007.

Books – Fiction & Poetry

Dumont, Marilyn. The Pemmican Eaters. Toronto, ON: ECW Press, 2015.

Kerr, Conor. Avenue of Champions. Nightwood Editions, 2021.

Kerr, Conor. Prairie Edge. Penguin Random House Canada, forthcoming 2024.

Language and Cultural Resources

Gabriel Dumont Institute. “Heritage Michif Dictionary.” The Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture. Accessed August 9, 2023. https://www.metismuseum.ca/michif_dictionary.php

Métis Nation British Columbia. Kaa-Wiichihitoyaahk: We Take Care of Each Other. Surrey, BC: Métis Provincial Council of British Columbia, 2021.

Rupertsland Institute. Homeland History. Edmonton, AB: Rupertsland Institute, 2022a. https://www.rupertsland.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Metis-Culture-and-Traditions-Foundational-Knowledge-Themes-01.25.22.pdf

Rupertsland Institute. Languages of Métis. Edmonton, AB: Rupertsland Institute, 2022a. https://www.rupertsland.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Metis-Culture-and-Traditions-Foundational-Knowledge-Themes-01.25.22.pdf

Rupertsland Institute. Master Vocabulary List. Edmonton, AB: Rupertsland Institute, 2022b. https://www.rupertsland.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Metis-Nation-Governance-Foundational-Knowledge-Themes-01.25.22-Rupertsland-Institute.pdf

Rupertsland Institute. Métis Culture and Traditions. Edmonton, AB: Rupertsland Institute, 2022a. https://www.rupertsland.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Metis-Culture-and-Traditions-Foundational-Knowledge-Themes-01.25.22.pdf

Rupertsland Institute. Métis in Alberta. Edmonton, AB: Rupertsland Institute, 2022a. https://www.rupertsland.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Metis-Culture-and-Traditions-Foundational-Knowledge-Themes-01.25.22.pdf

Rupertsland Institute. Métis Nation Governance. Edmonton, AB: Rupertsland Institute, 2022b. https://www.rupertsland.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Metis-Nation-Governance-Foundational-Knowledge-Themes-01.25.22-Rupertsland-Institute.pdf

Taking Action this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Most people have experienced some form of prejudice in their lives. For some, it’s more than occasional: it’s daily and it’s violent. I have privilege, appearing white thanks to my dad and his English/French background, but I am proudly Métis through my mom. Because of my proximity to whiteness, I see it as a responsibility to do better, and hold others accountable to do better. This is how I enact kaa-wiichihitoyaahk, a Michif term meaning “we take care of each other.”

Image of an orange t-shirt with "every child matters" written on it in black text. Behind is a ribbon skirt.

Photo credit: Alicia Hibbert (original photo). All rights reserved.

I have witnessed, heard about, and had stories shared with me by Indigenous friends, family, and colleagues about anti-Indigenous racism. It’s alive and well today, despite the Calls to Action, and despite the strides that have been made. This is a truth that non-Indigenous people need to understand, one that isn’t solved by purchasing one t-shirt (although you should still purchase a t-shirt from an Indigenous artist or organization—I have the 2022 design from S&K Collective).

I believe that when we talk about reconciliation, we need to think about economic reconciliation. Bob Joseph shares in a blog post that, “a return to economic independence is one of the primary objectives of Indigenous Peoples in Canada but the Indian Act, ongoing economic and social marginalization, lack of infrastructure, inequality in funding for equitable education, federally imposed restrictions on the ability of individuals to raise capital are some of the barriers to this goal.”

Over the past few years, many people have been working on learning, on Truth. But sustained action is needed for Reconciliation. This is one reason why I’ve been building towards work as a full-time freelance consultant. So I can weave my path forward with the threads that have the highest, most immediate impact.

My mission with Edified Projects is to:

  • Ask hard questions of non-Indigenous authors and their work when writing about Indigenous peoples. Sometimes this means refusing to review/work on a manuscript.
  • Through workshops and consulting, ensure organizations consider Indigenous inclusion, not from the perspective of what Indigenous peoples can do to fit into their organization, but what organizations can do to increase their readiness to safely and equitably include Indigenous people in their workforce and procurement strategies. And, that they should do this, rather than going the easy route of what they know.
  • Develop strategies and program evaluation frameworks that integrate Indigenous worldviews, when it makes sense to do so (it sometimes doesn’t make sense if it’s just tacked on, rather than integrated across the organization).
  • As a collective, compensate all colleagues, no matter their background or formal education and experience, at an equal level across Edified Projects’ work. We split fees proportionately, based on time worked. This is a way we honour everyone’s contribution and life experience.
  • Work with Indigenous businesses as much as I can, and support/buy from/procure Indigenous businesses. You can’t begin to believe the awesome ripple effects that occur every time you support an Indigenous business.

I’m sharing this to give you ideas on how to do things differently for reconciliation. Reconciliation Canada has a dialogue guide to get you started moving beyond truth to action, and a lot of great Indigenous-led businesses work with organizations on Reconciliation Action Plans (Rise Consulting, for one!).

Did you know there is a National Indigenous Economic Strategy? Check it out. Some of the actions from this strategy that apply to most companies include:

  • Increasing the number of Indigenous Peoples on your boards.
  • Starting or contributing to scholarships (like Métis-led COYA did!).
  • Evaluating program efficacy in relation to Indigenous Peoples, especially in the workplace.
  • Supporting Indigenous training organizations (I’ve mentioned a couple here already).
  • Boosting Indigenous procurement. Keep in mind that 73% of Indigenous businesses are not incorporated and 64% have no employees. Knowing this, think about how your procurement policies act as barriers to sole proprietors and microbusinesses.

I’ve told you about some of the actions I’m taking. I’d love to hear yours.

Alicia

Why the word “Indigenizing” makes us uncomfortable

By: Becca Shortt & Alicia Hibbert

It feels like the word Indigenize is surrounding us lately. It is used in workplaces, especially those adjacent to or within post-secondary. It is often used interchangeably with Indigeneity, decolonization, and reconciliation. And it’s a word that always felt uncomfortable to both of us, but we weren’t 100 percent sure why at first. Just that if you put literally any other culture or identity in the world before “-ize,” it sounds horrible. Go ahead, try it. 

So, we explored further.

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Orange Shirt Day 2020

Original version. Edited version was published: Hibbert, A. (2020, September 12). Orange Shirt Day at UBC – September 30. Retrieved September 13, 2020, from https://hr.ubc.ca/working-ubc/news/september-09-2020/orange-shirt-day-ubc-september-30

My name is Alicia Hibbert, I have a prairie Metis perspective, and I’m a guest living, working, and resting with gratitude on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaɁɬ təməxʷ (Musqueam), səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsleil-Waututh), and skwxwú7mesh-ulh Temíx̱w (Squamish) peoples. Our team is focused on supporting physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing at both the individual and community levels. We believe that wellbeing requires safe, healthy, and supportive environments, including equity and human rights.

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Decolonization Reflection Activity – 35 minutes

Developed by: Alicia Hibbert & Rebecca Shortt

The following activity is an adapted 1-2-4-All Activity with the theme of decolonization. This was first completed in a setting with 15 people with a limited timeframe of 35 minutes – I include it here in that short format so you can see how it can be applied easily within limited parameters.

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