SUNDRE – Previously included as a part of the Sundre and District Museum’s exhibit featuring the history of First Nations and Indigenous people, a collection of artifacts that is now featured as a standalone display and was largely donated by descendants of Métis families who moved to town more than half a century ago, was blessed last week during a ceremony amid Métis Week, which was observed Nov. 12-18.
About two dozen people came out to the museum on Tuesday, Nov. 14, when elder Doreen Bergum – one of 10 children whose parents Mary and Ambrose Dumont moved to Sundre in during the early 1940s – shared some insight not only into her own family history but also Métis culture and her reasons for getting involved as an elder.
Bergum spoke of the 2019 agreement with the federal government that saw the Métis Nations of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario sign a self-governing agreement, which was followed in 2022 by an overwhelming majority vote of Métis to ratify their constitution.
And earlier this year, the Métis Nation of Alberta announced the parties had signed a document called Métis Nation within Alberta Government Recognition and Self-Government Implementation Agreement.
Bergum also offered blessings during a prayer that she concluded by saying, “As we move forward, help our children and youth find the balance between past and present, in tradition and spirit.”
She also encouraged individuals of Métis lineage to embrace their history.
“Be proud of your Métis heritage; our Métis culture is worth it,” she said.
However, she did not speak exclusively about the past; Bergum also sought to raise awareness about history that is still unfolding. She mentioned the federal government’s recently tabled Bill C-53, which is described by the Government of Canada as “an act respecting the recognition of certain Métis governments, and to give effect to treaties with those governments and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.”
Calling it a “significant piece of legislation” that affirms previously signed self-governing agreements, Bergum said the document does not impact the rights of other Indigenous people including Inuit and First Nations, but rather recognizes the Métis people’s right to self determination and governance, such as citizenship, elections, government structures, as well as child and family services.
“Bill C-53 will ensure that even as governments come and go, the recognition of our Métis self-governance will not be subject to” sudden policy changes or reversals that can arise when a new political party comes into power, she said, adding, “This historic step forward is long past due.”
Seeking to clarify a common misconception, Bergum also said the bill has nothing to do with land rights.
“Everybody thinks we’re trying to take back the land,” she said, adding that’s not the case.
Bergum also quoted Louis Riel, an historic political leader of the Métis and a founder of Manitoba who led resistance movements against the federal government before eventually being sentenced to hang after being convicted of treason. Despite protests and popular appeals as well as the jury’s call for clemency, Riel was sentence was carried out and he was executed on Nov. 16, 1885 at age 41.
“I am more convinced everyday that without a single exception I did right,” said Bergum, quoting Riel. “And I have always believed that, as I have acted honestly, the time will come when the people of Canada will see and acknowledge it.”
Also participating in the ceremony were: Carrie Couch, the museum’s executive director; Jody Mercier-Layden, constituency manager for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre MLA Jason Nixon, who was unable to attend; Sundre mayor Richard Warnock; Joe Chodzicki, District 3 citizens representative for the Otipemisiwak Métis government; Ken Walker, chair of the Sundre and District Historical Society; and Gayle Mennear, whose grandmother spoke Cree, French and English.
Members of the Sundre RCMP detachment also attended as observers.
“Métis families have lived in Sundre dating back to 1943,” Couch said following a land acknowledgement, adding they came to support their families in the industries the town has to offer, namely agriculture and forestry at the time.
Along the way, she added, they established strong Métis roots in the community.
Chodzicki emphasized the point raised by Bergum about the federal government’s currently tabled Bill C-53.
“It’s really important that we get Bill C-53 passed through the House,” he said, adding the member of Parliament for Red Deer – Mountain View will have a vote on that piece of legislation.
Although the riding’s MP Earl Dreeshen was extended an invitation to attend the ceremony, he as a result of prior commitments could not be there, said Couch, adding no alternate arrangements were made to send a representative in his stead.
Recounting what drove her to pursue a path toward advocating for reconciliation, Bergum recalled a time when members of the Métis community who contributed to help the French build a church, were later denied entry into the sanctuary and left with little choice but to host events like weddings out back behind the building.
“I was so upset about that, I got involved with reconciliation,” she said, adding other issues such as restricted access to education and being prohibited from proudly participating in their own culture further fuelled her convictions.
“It was against the law for us to celebrate our culture,” she said.
Mennear (née Cardwell) also spoke about her grandmother, Maria (née Nipshank) Arnault, who is interred at the Sundre Cemetery alongside her grandfather John Arnault. Both of her grandparents passed in 1973.
“Being the only grandchild still living in Sundre, it is my privilege to tell you a little bit about granny’s life,” she said.
“Because she was of Métis background, she was never given the opportunity to go to school to learn to read and write,” said Mennear.
Despite such societal hurdles, as well as physical challenges like a bad case of arthritis, Mennear said her grandmother nevertheless kept up her spirits and was not only a good housekeeper but also very resourceful.
She recalled many of the lessons taught to her brothers, like trapping and skinning muskrats as well as harvesting herbal plants for tea.
“I remember when it was Saskatoon berry picking time; us kids weren’t allowed to eat any berries until our pail was full. Granny even came around checking the tongues to see if we followed the rules,” said Mennear, eliciting some laughter from the crowd.
Yet among her most cherished memories of her grandmother was not only how family-oriented she was, but also the lengths she would go to stay connected with friends – no easy task back in the 1950s without a vehicle, said Mennear, who said she seized the opportunity to become a letter writer.
“After I’d written a letter, I had to read it back to granny to make sure I had it right,” she said. “Later, when a reply came, I read it to her.”
Such correspondence was an important part of her grandmother’s life, and Mennear said she was happy to have had the chance to be part of that effort to keep open the lines of communication.
“I still have in my possession a letter she wrote to my mum. She always referred to her only child as, Dear Daughter,” said Mennear, whose mother was Marie (née Arnault) Cardwell.
Mennear said her grandmother, who was married to William Alvin Cardwell, inspired and subsequently influenced her own life in many ways.
“Because of her ability to speak three languages, I loved studying French and English in university. I have tried to learn Cree, but it’s very difficult unless you have someone to converse with on a daily basis,” she said.
Additionally, her grandmother’s patience and caring nature with children led Mennear to pursue a path as a teacher and in 1960 she moved to Sundre, where she met Mark Mennear, her future husband of more than 40 years who died in 2003. The couple raised three children.
“Granny was delighted to know them before she died,” said Mennear. “I’m glad my granny lived in this unique and caring community, and I’m especially glad I followed in her footsteps.”
The blessing ceremony concluded with Bergum demonstrating a Métis jig with a few people stepping up to join in.
Jackie Golightly, the museum’s volunteer collections manager, said afterward that she enjoyed the opportunity to attend the ceremony.
“It’s so good to see Métis people coming out and being proud to share their culture,” Golightly said.
Anyone interested in learning more about the local Métis community and its connections to the Sundre area are invited to visit the museum and check out the exhibit.
