Pembina Hills School Division will be joining schools across Alberta in celebrating Métis Week, a time to recognize and honour the rich culture, history, and contributions of Métis peoples — and to honour the life and legacy of Louis Riel.

Each year on November 16, people across Canada pay tribute to the Right Honourable Louis Riel, a leader, advocate, and founder of Manitoba, who championed Métis rights and identity. This date marks the anniversary of his execution in 1885, and it serves as a time to reflect on his vision for justice and self-determination for the Métis Nation.

In Alberta, the week surrounding November 16 is known as Métis Week — a time to learn, share, and celebrate Métis heritage through education and community connection.

Métis Week Learning in Pembina Hills

Throughout November, our students and staff are engaging in meaningful learning experiences that celebrate Métis identity, language, and knowledge. These activities help students connect classroom learning to Métis ways of knowing and being, and to deepen their understanding of Indigenous perspectives across the curriculum.

• Early Learning and Kindergarten students at École Barrhead Elementary School (BES) will learn from a Métis Elder, Knowledge and Michif language holder on November 17 and 18, who will guide classes through storytelling and music, introducing students to the beauty and rhythm of the Michif language.
• Grade 5 students from École Westlock Elementary School and BES will explore astronomical phenomena through a Métis lens with a Métis Knowledge Holder from Tawatinaw. Sessions will connect curriculum outcomes such as moon phases, solstices, and auroras with traditional Métis and Indigenous understandings of the land, seasons, and skies — including how these observations guide planting, harvesting, and hunting practices.
• Teacher Learning in the Fort Assiniboine Area — On November 28, Indigenous Education Lead Teachers from across the division will gather for land-based learning with another Métis Knowledge Holder who will share teachings about the Frost Moon, the importance of water, and connections to plants and other living relatives in our region. This professional learning day will help teachers strengthen their connection to the land and grow their confidence in bringing Indigenous perspectives into their classrooms.
• Virtual Field Trips with Rupertsland Institute — Schools will also have access to a series of virtual field trips curated by the Rupertsland Teaching and Learning team, offering teachers flexible and engaging resources to bring Métis voices and experiences into their classrooms.

Together, we celebrate Métis Week by learning, sharing, and honouring the unique heritage of the Métis Nation. We encourage families and students to explore Métis culture further. Visit these resources to learn more:

• Rupertsland Institute – check out their interactive resources printables, videos and virtual field trips!
  
• Alberta Education: Métis People in Alberta
• Métis Nation of Alberta (Otipemisiwak Métis Government)