Fiddlers, Métis culture, and a do-not-miss inaugural experience coming to Whitecourt in July

By Serena Lapointe
 
This summer, Festival Park will be home to many different
events from Party in the Park to Canada Day celebrations
and gatherings large and small, as community members
and visitors alike enjoy one of the town’s prettiest
amenities. It will also be home to cultural events,
recognizing and celebrating the history of those who live
here. On July 26, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government, which
translates to “the people who own themselves,” will be
sharing its Kitchen Party Tour with the community. The
event is part of a long-running series of concerts across
the province, which began on May 19 and will wrap up in
Whitecourt.
Other communities on the list include Edmonton, High
River, Fort Chipewyan, St. Albert, St. Paul des Métis,
Conklin, Lac La Biche, Grande Prairie, Peace River, Fort
Vermillion, Medicine Hat, Airdrie, Rocky Mountain House
and Hinton.
This is the inaugural year for the event, which President of
the Otipemisiwak Métis Government, Andrea Sandmaier
said is a point of pride for the organization. “A kitchen
party is a long-standing Métis tradition of informal,

community-based gatherings, where people come
together connect, celebrate, and unwind. For generations,
our families gathered in kitchens, yards, and community
spaces. After long days, our Métis parents, grandparents,

aunties, uncles, and friends would pull up chairs, play the
fiddle, dance, and share stories,” she explained in her
President’s Corner announcement last week.
“These were moments of celebration of our Métis identity,
history, and people. They were also how we carried our
culture forward, stayed connected, and held onto our
identity, even when it was not always safe to do so. The
Kitchen Party Tour is about bringing that spirit back, by
creating space for Métis Citizens to come together to
reconnect, to share our stories, and to celebrate who we
are.”
During the April 27 Regular Meeting of Council, members
received a letter from the Otipemisiwak Métis Government
inviting the municipality to collaborate with them for the
event. “We believe this could further strengthen the event
and highlight Whitecourt’s commitment to cultural
celebration and reconciliation-focused collaboration,”
wrote Mike Handy, Lac Ste. Anne District 8 Captain.
Angela Mitchell, FCSS Manager for the Town of
Whitecourt, said that the Whitecourt & Area Family
Support Program had partnered with the Otipemisiwak
Métis Government to support an Indigenous Artisan

Market during the event. “Family Support Program staff
will be in attendance to promote services and strengthen
cultural connections with attendees,” she explained.
She said the goal of the event is to bring people together
“In a positive, inclusive atmosphere.” She said that
everyone is welcome to attend. “Members of the

community, allies, friends and family of all ages are invited
to attend this free event.
Whitecourt Town Council provided support for the event,
motioning in favour of having members attend. They also
motioned in favour of sending a letter back to District
Captain Mike Handy, thanking the Otipemisiwak Métis
Government for the opportunity to collaborate.
For those unfamiliar with the Otipemisiwak Métis
Government, Métis Citizens overwhelmingly ratified a
constitution to establish the body in late 2022, with the first
election held the following fall. The Otipemisiwak Métis
Government is now the government of the Métis Nation
within Alberta and is recognized by the Government of
Canada through a self-government agreement letter
signed between the two parties in 2023, as per the
Otipemisiwak Métis Government website.
“Whether you grew up with kitchen parties, are
reconnecting with your Métis roots, or are joining for the
first time, there is a place for you. Bring your family, bring a

chair or blanket, pack a picnic, and take part in something
that has always been ours,” said President Sandmaier, in
her open invitation on the government’s website.
“Our Métis culture is not something behind us. It is alive in
our gatherings, in our stories, and in each other, and
through the Kitchen Party Tour, we are strengthening it for
future generations.” Whitecourt’s stop on the tour will take
place on July 26 at Festival Park between 7 and 9 pm.
Mark your calendars!
The Otipemisiwak Métis Government Citizen’s Council. (albertametis.com) PHOTO