Métis Heritage Festival
June 6-7, 2025 • Choteau, MT
Métis Heritage Festival
June 6-7, 2025 • Choteau, MT
Métis are a unique cultural group recognized in Canada but not the United States. Borne of unions between primarily Cree or Chippewa women, and mainly French, but also Scottish and other European traders, the Métis are characterized by fiddle music, jig dancing, the Métis sash, Red River carts, and their unique language, Michif. Métis in the United States are found in many places and have strong kinship networks with Turtle Mountain Chippewa and Little Shell Chippewa people, and are often enrolled with or descendants of those tribes.
This festival invites Métis and non-Métis people to come and celebrate this vibrant culture!
During this session, Métis historian and elder Al Wiseman described Red River carts, used by Métis people to haul furs as well as their bison harvest from the Great Plains. The carts were constructed only of wood, they were sturdy enough to hold 900 pounds, and they made a great screeching noise that could be heard for miles. Métis people ran brigades of up to 1000 carts out to the Plains for hunting, taking entire communities along, including livestock.
Jamie, a Métis fiddler from Fort Belknap, played with her dad, Jim, and taught the audience about Métis fiddling style, told her own story, explained Indigenous influences on fiddling, and demonstrated some dance steps too!
Sisters Wanda Nichols and Carol Moran demonstrated how they make bannock, and told many stories (mainly about their other sister Kathy) along the way.
Live music with the Moran sisters, from left: Kathy, Julie, Carol.
Métis Heritage Keepers
Chris La Tray won a 2025 Montana Heritage Keepers award from the Montana Historical Society. It was presented to him at this year's Métis Heritage Festival. Here he stands with Al Wiseman, winner of a 2016 Montana Heritage Keepers award. They are the only two Métis to be recognized in this way.
Miiyaashin - good/good work, Michif language
Gimaamiikwenamigo - we are proud of you, Ojibwemowin language,
...the two languages of the Turtle Mountain and Little Shell Chippewa people.