Creation at the Heart of Tradition in St. Boniface

In the Francophone neighbourhood of St. Boniface, L’Union Mationale Métisse Saint-Joseph du Manitoba offers traditional Métis arts workshops in French. Founded in 1887, it is the oldest Métis organization in the country. Today, it continues to keep Manitoba's Métis culture alive through hands-on and accessible experiences.

Around a table, colourful beads inspire creation. Floral patterns gradually appear. The Métis are sometimes called the Flower Beadwork People, in reference to this unique design that spans generations. Each flower, each colour tells a story of belonging.

Among the craftswomen leading these workshops is Nancy Gouliquer. A French-speaking Métis craftswoman, she has been sharing her expertise in beadwork and capote making for over 15 years. Capotes are the iconic coats once worn by voyageurs and Métis.

With her, the workshop becomes immersive! As a family, a couple or with friends, learn how to transform a wool blanket into a capote. Discover the techniques, adjustments and the details that make all the difference. Why do these techniques still matter today? A capote is not a costume: it is a symbol of identity that is worth discovering!

Useful Information
Location: St. Boniface, Winnipeg
Sessions available for small groups with reservations
Website

An Immersive Experience with Borealis Beading in Ste. Genevieve

About 40 minutes from Winnipeg, a Métis experience takes on a different form with Borealis Beading.

Meet Mélanie Gamache, a French-speaking Métis craftswoman. She fell into beading in 2014, at a kitchen table on a winter evening. This very personal moment marked for her a turning point. Beading became an anchor, a way to reconnect with her heritage.

Her decision to settle in a rural area wasn’t without reason. In Ste. Genevieve, surrounded by nature, Mélanie offers learning experiences to create jewelry, beaded bags and accessories inspired by traditional Métis designs. Offering these sessions in French is a conscious choice. In a place where the language was sometimes marginalized - it has become a vehicle for connection and pride.

Mélanie specializes in the two-needle technique, which she now teaches in small groups. Depending on the option you have chosen, you will immerse yourself in discussions about the land and seasons, before sitting down at a table to work with beads. The movements are precise, almost meditative. Conversation flows naturally in French.

As the workshop is conducted in French, connection is not only achieved through gesture, but also through language, a living heritage of the Métis people.

Useful Information
Location: Ste. Genevieve
Sessions available seasonally or by request
Website

An Encounter That Transforms Your Perspective

Discovering Métis culture in French means agreeing to slow down. Taking the time to stop, listen and let the encounter take care of the rest.

Surrounded by colourful beads, carefully selected fabrics and stories generously shared, you will quickly understand that history is not only found in museums. It is also experienced around a table, in carefully repeated gestures that go back generations. Long marginalized and sometimes a victim of assimilation, Métis culture is now proudly passed on, in French.

Are you ready to experience this unique French immersion in the heart of Manitoba?