Chilliwack Métis Association

Introducing the 2020 Métis Angel tree topper! Rising above, she reminds us that we have come through difficult times before. With patience, we will get through ...this, too. When she covers her face, it is out of love and respect for her community, especially the Old Ones; the kihtehayak. Her mask is embroidered with tiny floral work, and embellished with long hand-tied tassels. It is an expression of identity - of where she comes from and who she is. A pinch of pure Tobacco leaf is inside her little 2020 embroidered pouch, hand stitched from smoke tanned buckskin and beaded with glass micro beads. She offers Tobacco in thanks for all the gifts that she is given every day. She offers Tobacco with a prayer for wellness for all who need it; all our relations, including the animals, insects, plants, water, earth, wind, sky and people from all directions. She wears a ribbon dress stitched of "kohkom" print trade cotton. Her velveteen grandmother shawl is edged in a looped fringe of cut crystal beads, and micro beaded to match her tiny cummerbund. Her hair is adorned with a pretty floral beaded barrette of smoke tanned buckskin. This little heirloom Angel will mark this historic time, but she will remember it as a time when people hunkered down in their circles - isolated, yet determined to still connect, virtually, to their community and distant loved ones. She will remember a time of change and revolution, a time of reflection. She will remember this time that we were resilient. Auction will begin on Friday, November 20 at 5:00PST and will close four hours later, at 9:00PST. *100% of the proceeds raised will be donated to BC Society of Transition Houses.* One only. Valued at $545. Bidding for the 2020 Métis Angel will begin at $275.

Flu Clinic today! 10am till noon.

Flu Clinic tomorrow! Vedder Rd. & Wells. 10am till noon

Be sure to visit Lisa Shepherd, Metis Artist for the auction this Friday! Please share! All proceeds are going to transition houses within BC. Thank you Lisa for this generous tribute

Always good to stay up to date on the Metis News. https://youtu.be/PURFuawskto

Road Show post-Louis Riel Day!

Elder Joe Smith demonstrates how traditional bangs are made and talks on its history growing up on the prairies.

Louis Riel Day On November 16th, we celebrate Louis Riel Day. Although most of us have heard of him, not everyone remembers why. He has been described as charismatic, a leader, a rebel, a traitor, the Father of Manitoba and even insane. So who is Louis Riel and how did he get his own holiday? Louis Riel was born in 1844 at the Red River Settlement where he was the first of 11 children, born to a Métis father and French Canadian mother. He was elected president of the provi...sional government formed during the Red River Resistance of 1869-70, and negotiated Manitoba’s entry into Canada in 1871. Louis Riel was elected to Parliament 3 times, but never took his seat. He returned to the Northwest at the request of the Métis during the initial stages of the Northwest Resistance in 1884. Following the defeat of the Métis at Batoche, Riel was tried for treason. His lawyers tried to plead insanity as his defense, but Louis Riel denied those claims. He was found guilty of High Treason in May 1885. Despite the jury recommending leniency, he was sentenced to hang. During his own life, Riel was recognized as the father of Manitoba and is currently acknowledged to be a founding father of Confederation in Canada. In addition to advocating for Métis rights, Riel also fought for greater religious freedom, French language rights, First Nations rights, and greater gender equality throughout the Northwest. Riel died as a staunch advocate for the Métis and as a defender of minority rights in general. It is Riel’s legacy that continues to attract Métis to remember the ideals and values that he died defending. For that reason, Métis across the homeland commemorate the anniversary of his death, as opposed to the day he was born. It is a day to celebrate the lasting culture and impact that Métis have had on Canadian society. It is a day to recount that Métis have long advocated democracy and freedom of expression for all Canadians. In fact, in one of his trial speeches, Riel prophetically stated that he will perhaps be one day acknowledged as more than a leader of the half-breeds, andwill have an opportunity of being acknowledged as a leader of good in this great country. I suppose the half-breeds in Manitoba, in 1870, did not fight for two hundred forty acres of land, but it is to be understood there were two societies who treated together. One was small, but in its smallness it had its rights. The other was great, but in its greatness it had no greater rights than the rights of the small, because the right is the same for everyone. - Louis Riel

We remember Louis Riel.