Indigenous tourism’s role in reconciliation in Northern Alberta – The Globe and Mail
Needle and thread in hand, I sew two pieces of pink flannel together, my blanket stitch tight and careful. My instructor, Lilyrose Meyers, who describes herself as a traditional art teacher and knowledge keeper, stands watch at the front of the room.
“I don’t have two cultures, I have many cultures,” she says, gesturing to Métis capotes (jackets) decorated with intricate beadwork, an art form with origins in both Indigenous and European cultures.
My mom and I have travelled to Métis Crossing, just outside of Smoky Lake, Alta., to learn how to make gauntlets (mittens). It’s one of the many new winter workshops being offered at the cultural centre, marking its transition to a year-round destination. Guests can stay overnight in the colder months, thanks to a new 40-room boutique lodge designed by Métis architect Tiffany Shaw-Collinge.
