The end of February marks an exciting change for the Swift Current branch of the Chinook Regional Library as they welcome Metis Month of March to the city. 

Tekeyla Friday, Children’s Programmer at the Chinook Regional Library, said that she is looking forward to having Metis cultural events happen at the Swift Current branch. 

“I myself am Metis, and I know a number of Metis in our community that I was hoping would come out and join us and we'll celebrate kind of like their culture,” she said. “As well as opening this program up to public who may not have a lot of knowledge or information about Metis people and so that we can educate the public a little bit more about Metis people and their traditions.” 

Friday will be teaching traditional beading

The month will feature multiple different activities such as Red River cart building, traditional beading, and traditional jigging. It will also shine a spotlight on Metis history and Treaty 4 Territory. 

The programs are the result of a grant from the Gabriel DuMont Institute, Saskatchewan Lotteries and Saskatchewan cultures. 

Events will be taking place every Saturday throughout the month of March beginning with Red River cart building on March 5. 

The workshop will be hosted by George Fayant, who has been building the carts for nearly 23 years. 

Fayant is looking forward to the workshop, stating that it is his first in-person event in two years. 

“I just love interacting with the participants, especially the younger kids,” he said. “They seem to be very engaged. They enjoy making a cart that they can take home with themselves and to share the history and how they were made is, that that's my goal in life.” 

George Fayant has been building Red River carts for over 20 years.

The following two Saturday’s will feature traditional Metis beading, with Friday facilitating the workshop. 

Friday said the two part workshop will be using beading patterns on leather during the first week, and participants will have one week to finish their design before the next workshop. 

The second class will show participants how to sew their beadwork into a pouch. Participants must enroll in both classes to complete their project. 

On the last Saturday of the month, the library will be offering traditional jigging with the Creeland Dancers. 

Any age is welcome to attend, and no experience is required. 

Registration is required to attend the events as space is limited.  

To register, you can call the Swift Current branch library at (306) 778-2752, or email sc@chinook.lib.sk.ca 

The Red River cart was a mode of transportation used by Metis people in the Prairies during the settlement of the West in the mid- to late-1800s.