Welcome to Meeting My Ancestors Community

Taanishi, Tawaw! (Hello and Welcome!)

We created this space for you, to help you reclaim your indigenous roots, to help you learn our indigenous arts and teachings…to help you meet your ancestors.

Why are you here?

Our students are just like you, they have busy lives going to school, raising families, work and careers, but something has shifted for them. Some of them were raised knowing and being close to our culture, some were estranged from it due to divorce or adoption, and some knew their heritage but had no real connection to our tradtions growing up. But all of them began to realize that they wanted the meaning in life that comes from the traditions of our culture. They felt the loss of a grandparent who passed before they could learn to make moccasins. They felt a growing pride in their heritage and a deep desire to have it be a part of their daily experiece rather than a display that they visited during cultural festivals and powows. They realized how deeply they wanted to know both the skill of beading and to hear the stories of our people. It is that deep desire for connection that brought them here. A desire to learn to bead, to tan hides, to practice traditional arts…yes. But also a desire to know their history, to hear their cultural teachings and stories, and to reclaim their indeigenous roots. 

Why do you want to learn traditional skills?

Traditional skills like beading and moccasin making are beautiful, of course. But they are so much more than that also. These skills hold so much meaning, so many teachings, and hold important lessons. Lessons that teach us about our cultures, about how we live in sync with nature, and about who our ancestors were and about who we are. Regardless of the skills you choose to learn, you will experience not just the instructions but also the deeper understanding that comes with cultural teachings.

Is this space for you?

The Meeting My Ancestors Community is an inclusive community, with our greatest mission being to reconnect indigenous people with their roots and traditions. This group is for you if;

- You are Metis (or from any indigenous Nation and need a starting place to reconnect with your culture) and have grown up removed from your culture and traditions.

- You are indigenous and were raised knowing your culture and traditions, but want to have a space for learning more, and practicing your traditions with a community of people who you identify with.

- You are the parent of a Metis child and you want to support their connection to their culture.

- You are an indigenous studies student and want to learn more about the Metis culture.

- You are not indigenous but are looking to practice new skills and create beautiful works of art using these skills.

Who is this group not for?

- Those who are racist, prejudice, or abusive towards others

- Those who aren't willing to let others heal and learn in ways that support their connection to their culture

- Those who use shame to coerce others in their community

- Those who believe in racial superiority

What will you experience as a part of this network?

- Weekly recipes for you to try

- A community of others who are reconnecting with their culture to discuss and share with

- A Mechif language practice group with weekly words to learn

- Access to traditional arts classes online where you can learn the beautiful arts of our ancestors

- Stories and teachings that are offered within the network at no charge. 

What will you get out of your participation?

- A connection to the stories of your people

- A feeling of belonging with people who are connecting with their culture

- Skills to practice traditional arts

- Understanding of the connection of the Metis Nation to the land, plants and animals that supports us

- An opportunity to connect with the spiritual teachings of our ancestors

Thank-you to the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada for providing us with the seed funding to create our online classes for you to enjoy and learn.