For the very first time, the City of Saskatoon is celebrating Metis heritage with a cultural display at City Hall. 

In the centre of the lobby sits a half-scale Red River Cart complete with lilacs, a Metis scarf, and a Hudson’s Bay point blanket. Red River Carts were used by Metis people to carry large loads across great distances throughout the 19th century.   

Metis Elder Nora Cummings, the oldest Metis descendant in the area, says the installment makes history, as it is the first time the City has recognized Metis people in this way.  

“This is totally history, and it’s not only for us but for our younger generations, and for all other races of people, and I am very proud of that.” 

This celebration is in stark contrast to the treatment Metis children received in school just decades ago. Cummings recounts an experience with one of her teachers, who stood all 25 Michif children in the class up against a wall and called them savages. 

“We didn’t know what a savage was. We never heard about savage. So, we were proud, because we thought for a change, she was being nice to us.” 

Cummings says the celebration of Metis heritage is welcome, but the key to true unity is stopping discrimination against all races in its tracks. 

“So, all I want to say to all of you again, think about how we can stay together. We had some tough times, but those are gone. Those times are gone, because we are teaching our kids ‘this is not what you do.’”