OLDS — Nov. 15-21 has officially been proclaimed as Metis Week in Olds.
Also, council authorized staff to fly the Metis flag in front of the Town of Olds administration office during that period. It was raised on the morning of Nov. 15.
During council’s Nov. 8 meeting, it was noted that Olds sits on land in Metis Nation Region 3 as well as the traditional territories of several First Nations.
During that meeting, elder Doreen Bergum of the Metis Nation Region 3 asked for the proclamation and the raising of the flag.
“It’s also a very emotional time for me because I was born right on this spot in 1945 in the Olds Hospital,” she said.
“I’ve often heard there’s no Metis or (First Nations) reserve around Olds and I’m afraid we’ve been around for a while,” she added with a smile.
On Bergum's behalf, town heritage advisor Michelle Jorgensen distributed a history of the area.
Bergum noted that many of her family and friends are buried in the Olds Cemetery.
She said she has a “very rich history,” as her maiden name is Dumont, the same last name as the Metis hero Gabriel Dumont.
Bergum said as an elder, her role is to “come out and educate our society on who the Metis are and get proper recognition for their accomplishments in building this country -- and I would say – building Olds and Sundre.”
Bergum recited a prayer which highlighted many aspects of Metis pride, history and culture.
“Thank you elder. That was beautiful. Thank you for sharing that with council as a whole and the gallery," mayor Judy Dahl said.
Bergum said aside from the flag-raising, nothing special is planned for the week that would involve the public, although residents are welcome to attend educational/cultural sessions that she and her daughter organize and convene just outside town.
Bergum did say she and her sister Marilyn Dumont, who is a poet and a professor at the University of Alberta, will be participating in an event at the University of Calgary on Nov. 17. During that event, Dumont will be speaking and Bergum will read the Metis prayer.
