The Otipemisiwak Métis Government’s first-ever Kitchen Party Tour wraps up its run with a stop in Whitecourt this weekend.
Sunday, July 26, members of the community are invited to “come and visit” Festival Park.
Guided by the spirit of Âstam Pi Kîyoki, or “Come and Visit,” the Kitchen Party Tour is a celebration of the traditional Métis kitchen party, intended to connect family and community through music, dancing and storytelling.
Andrea Sandmaier, Otipemisiwak Métis Government President, explained the traditional history of the gathering: “Sadly, our ancestors had to often hide who they were as Métis people, and they didn’t celebrate openly their culture, their traditions. Quite often families would come together… and sometimes they would even have to close the drapes. They’d move the furniture out, the fiddle would come out, and people would jig and share stories and just connect with each other — family, friends. It was very significant to our ancestors.”
Sandmaier said the importance of that connection continues today.
“As a Métis person, it’s really important for us to celebrate who we are every day,” she said. “And it’s really important to preserve our identity, our history and share our culture with non-Indigenous folks as well.”
Whitecourt, located within the Lac Ste. Anne Métis District, has a rich history of Métis culture. Sandmaier said the history is rooted in the fur trade, river transportation, trapping and other traditional harvesting practices that shaped much of north-central Alberta.
Using the Athabasca and McLeod river systems, “the area served as a key travel corridor for Métis voyageurs, traders, hunters and trading families throughout the 18th and 19th centuries,” she explained. “Métis families played an essential role in the development of that area through their knowledge of the land, their knowledge of transportation routes and relationships with First Nations communities along those routes.”
As resource industries expanded in the early 20th century, the Métis community continued to contribute to the region through guiding, logging, trapping, ranching and community building, Sandmaier added.
She commented, “Our people are true entrepreneurs; we always have been. We helped build this country, we helped build Alberta.”
“Today, Whitecourt remains part of the historic Métis homeland with Métis citizens continuing to preserve and celebrate their cultural traditions, their kinship ties and their deep connection to the land,” she said.
Whitecourt and area residents of all ages are invited to celebrate this rich history and culture this Sunday at the final stop in the Kitchen Party Tour.
From 7-9 p.m., the community can enjoy live music and dance performances, including a jig lesson with dancer Joel Gladue.
No tickets or pre-registration is required to attend, but it is recommended to bring a blanket or chairs for seating.
Light snacks and beverages will also be available, but beyond that, attendees should bring their own food.
