Mawachihitotaak (Let’s Get Together) Métis Studies Symposium brought together a diverse community of Métis thinkers. The gathering occurred virtually from May 3rd to 6th, 2022, in partnership with the Winnipeg Art Gallery in partnership with Kwaata-nihtaawakihk – A Hard Birth running March 18th—September 3rd, 2022.
We intended to create a space for Métis scholars, art makers, knowledge holders, students, language speakers, organizers, writers, and other community leaders to share knowledge and engage in conversation together. Through our visiting, we discussed a range of Métis priorities and scholarship areas while nourishing our relationships and celebrating the different forms that we are carrying and building Métis.
Mawachihitotaak (Let’s Get Together) Métis Studies Symposium was conceived on the premise of bringing students, the grassroots community, and academics together by a collective of 32 Métis thinkers from across the country. It was a free event and welcomed everybody resulting in over 2000 attendees.
Sessions took the form of presentations, panels, round table discussions, workshops, artist talks, art interventions, film screenings, poetry/spoken word/literature readings, and musical performances all virtually.
After speaking with the grandmothers who cautioned us from getting together with Metis from across the country during the uncertainty of Covid-19 we moved our gathering online to keep our elders, language keepers, and children safe.
Program outline
- Tuesday, May 3: Opening ceremony, presentations, workshops, and special evening panel
- Wednesday, May 4: Presentations, workshops, graduate event, and special evening partnership event with Kwaata-nihtaawakihk – A Hard Birth.
- Thursday, May 5: Presentations, workshops, networking event, and virtual Fiddle Jam
- Friday, May 6: Presentations, workshops, closing Keynote and Ceremony
Métis Thinkers 2022
Jennifer Adese, University of Toronto-MississaugaVicki Bouvier, Mount Royal UniversityMaria Campbell, University of SaskatchewanShirley Delorme Russell, Louis Riel InstituteVerna DeMontigny, Prairie to Woodlands Indigenous Language Revitalization CircleChantal Fiola, University of WinnipegLucy Fowler, University of ManitobaChelsea Gabel, McMaster UniversityMylene Gamache, University of ManitobaPaul Gareau, University of AlbertaJanice Cindy Gaudet, University of AlbertaSharon Goulet, University of ManitobaNicki Ferland, University of SaskatchewanLaura Forsythe, University of WinnipegRob Hancock, University of VictoriaSarah Hourie, University of ManitobaKiera Kowalski, University of WinnipegMelanie Lalonde, University of ManitobaAmanda LaVallee, University of the Fraser ValleyLynn Lavallée, Toronto Metropolitan UniversityJennifer Markides, University of CalgaryCathy Mattes, University of WinnipegVictoria May, Concordia UniversityAlexandra Nychuk, McMaster UniversityDavid Parent, University of Manitoba Jeremy Patzer, University of ManitobaBrielle Lucille Beaudin Reimer, University of ManitobaAllyson Stevenson, University of SaskatchewanNicole Stonyk, University of ManitobaHeather Souter, University of ManitobaCheryl Troupe, University of SaskatchewanAngie Tucker, University of Alberta