Who Are the Métis Nation?
Most people in Canada have heard the word “Métis.” They might think of Louis Riel standing on a gallows, or picture a red river cart pulled across a prairie they saw in a school textbook. If you ask, “Who are the Métis Nation?”, the answer you often hear is some version of, “They are people who are part Native and part European.” That answer sounds straightforward. It also misses the point. It treats the Métis as a racial category, not as a people. It turns a complex history
4 days ago6 min read
Sitting at the Fire: Remembering Who You Are
You arrive at the edge of the fire almost by accident. Not a ceremony. Not a big life event. Just one of those evenings when your mind won’t shut up and your body feels tired in a way that sleep doesn’t fix. The day has left its fingerprints on you: a tight jaw, a buzzing chest, a familiar old sentence running in the background. If anyone asked how you are, you’d probably say “fine” and change the subject. But here you are anyway, standing at the edge of a quiet circle. The f
Feb 137 min read
Seeing Clearly: The Rope and the Snake on the Prairie
On the wide-open prairie, where the grass bends to the wind and dusk paints the land in long shadows, stories become medicine. They teach us not just what to see, but how to see. The Rope in the Grass The young one walked home alone, boots brushing through dry grass. The sky was heavy with the last light, and each step sounded louder in the hush of evening. Suddenly, they stopped short, heart pounding. Just ahead, something coiled in the path: a snake, silent and still. The y
Jul 1, 20254 min read
Métis Plant Use: Ethical Harvesting and Cultural Renewal on the Path of Land
The Métis relationship with plants is a living tradition, one that weaves together generations of knowledge, cultural resilience, and a profound respect for the land. To walk the Path of Land, as described in your Four Paths framework, is to reconnect with our first teacher: the earth itself. This article explores the many ways Métis people use plants for medicine, food, craft, and ceremony, and how ethical and cultural foraging practices are essential to honouring both tradi
Jun 14, 20254 min read
Book Review: Rekindling the Sacred Fire by Chantal Fiola
Reading Rekindling the Sacred Fire was a deeply meaningful experience for me. Chantal Fiola’s honest storytelling and thorough research illuminated how Métis and Anishinaabe spirituality are not only alive, but also resilient and adaptable. Through her work, I found new ways to understand the enduring strength of Indigenous spiritual traditions, even in the face of historical and ongoing challenges. Fiola masterfully weaves together personal stories, ceremony, and history,
Jun 9, 20251 min read
The Gift of the In-Between and the Trickster Mind
For whoever needs to hear this today, come, sit with me for a while. Let us talk about the space between things, the in-between. Many people rush to choose a side, to name something as this or that, right or wrong, light or dark. But the old ones knew, and the land teaches, that much of life is lived in the space between. Think of the dawn, when night is not yet gone and day has not fully arrived. The sky is painted with colours that have no name, and the world is quiet, list
May 27, 20252 min read
Honouring the Heartbeat: Celebrating Métis Women Leading the Way
The heartbeat of the Métis Nation has always been its women. Across generations, Métis women have shaped our families, communities, and future. Today, Métis women and girls are everywhere—breaking barriers, building bridges, and leading the way in every field imaginable. Their resilience, tenacity, and vision inspire us all. This article is a celebration and a thank you to the women who lead, create, teach, heal, innovate, and dream. Your presence and achievements lift us all
May 23, 20253 min read
