Unsettling Pioneer Museums

Métis Material Culture

The selection of items and belongings in this display case at the Camrose and District Centennial Museum speaks to the diversity of Métis lived experiences now and in the past. They also demonstrate the cultural values of their community and the connections between families and individuals.

When the Laboucanes arrived in 1880 at Battle River Crossing, the six brothers, two sisters, and a matriarch joined a thriving Métis community. The Dumonts, Salois, Poitras, and Lavalles were a few of the Métis families already living at the settlement now known as Duhamel. Although they also kept farmsteads and stores, Métis lives were not fixed in one place. Seasons guided their lives, and their occupations meant they were constantly on the move. Accordingly, their values and the skills they cultivated responded to their distinct way of life.

Use the player below to listen to curator Skye Haggerty and project team member Lianne McTavish talk about the chair in this display.

Read a complete transcript of the audio here.

Use the player below to listen to curator Skye Haggerty and project team member Lianne McTavish talk about the Métis sash in this display:

Read a complete transcript of the audio here

Use the player below to listen to curator Skye Haggerty talk about items related to trapping in this display:

Read a complete transcript of the audio here

Use the player below to listen to curator Skye Haggerty talk about the buffalo coat in this display:

Read a complete transcript of the audio here

Use the player below to listen to curator Skye Haggerty talk about the jacket and beadwork in this display:

Read a complete transcript of the audio here

Use the player below to listen to curator Skye Haggerty talk about the different tools in this display:

Read a complete transcript of the audio here

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