Pre-Conference Events

Medicine Walk with Knowledge Carrier: Berna-Dean Holland

When: Sun Sept 20, 2026 

Time: 10am-12pm

Location: Carburn Park 

       67 Riverview Dr SE

                  Calgary AB 

                   50.974217, -114.026713

                   https://maps.apple/p/rQGon4Ru2QF-Da

Free to attend but registration is required

Participants to arrange own transportation or carpool

Meet Berna-Dean!

Berna-Dean Holland (née Gaudry), is an Alberta born Métis woman descended from families of the original Red River Métis colony in Manitoba. Like many Métis families, hers were forced from their lots along the Red River; resettling further West in various locations south and west across the Prairies - including Willow Bunch, Wood Mountain, Swift Current and Maple Creek in Saskatchewan, Turtle Mountain in North Dakota, and the Havre area in Montana. Her own grandparents (Grandfather born in Willow Bunch Saskatchewan, Grandmother near Havre Montana)- eventually moved to central and southern Alberta – living in rural locations in West Central Alberta, such as Red Lodge where her father was born and Calgary where other Métis relatives already resided. Berna-Dean’s Gaudry, Fayant, Beauchamp, Ducharme, and Desmarais family lineages endured significant challenges and losses, yet remained resilient and were of continuous documented Métis unions through to her father’s generation. In her youth, having spent a good deal of time fishing and camping along rivers, streams and lakeshores learning skills and land-based ways of knowing from her Métis father, she fell in love with the beings and wonders of Mother Earth at an early age - These experiences were undoubtedly foundational in sparking her further learning adventures – including her academic pursuits in natural sciences. She holds a BSc. from the University of Lethbridge and a MSc. from the University of Calgary, with a deep interest in Wildlife Behaviour and Ecology. Her career has included work as a marmot researcher, zookeeper, natural science educator, and caregiver for injured and orphaned wildlife. Her lifelong connection to animals, plants, and the land led her to create a small backyard urban forest of native plant species, many traditionally significant to Métis people while mainly providing habitat for insect pollinators, birds, and small mammals. Her creative passions include singing, songwriting, writing, wildlife art, and traditional floral beadwork. All things inspired by her love of our animal and plant relations, lands, waters, culture, community, and interconnectedness as beings of Mother Earth

Library/Special Collections Tour at UCalgary: Visiting Our Ancestors in the Archives

Métis Thinkers Network invites you to the archives! Join us for a tour of the UCalgary Archives and Special Collections. This 2-hour session will include a Smudge to set our intentions before entering the Archives, a 45-minute tour, and an hour session with Métis genealogical materials and their Louis Riel collection. If there are any other materials of interest, please let the organizers know well in advance to give librarians the opportunity to pull the materials. 

When: Sun Sept 20, 2026 

Time: 1-3pm

Location: Taylor Family Digital Library (TFDL), 2nd floor

• Campus map and room finder: https://www.ucalgary.ca/about-ucalgary/our-campuses/campus-maps-and-room-finder

• Campus parking information: https://www.ucalgary.ca/ancillary/parking/parking-permits/find-parking

Timeline:

12:45-12:55pm: Arrival 

1:00 pm: Smudge/Prayer

1:15 pm: Tour Begin

2:00 pm: Sit Down with Materials

3:00pm: Departure

Participants: Max 20 

Waitlist Available

Free to attend but registration is required

Participants to arrange own transportation or carpool

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