An exhibit spotlight event featuring Métis artisans and live entertainment
Date/Time: Oct 28 2018, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Surrey, Surrey Museum | Event calendarCost: Free
A spotlight event highlighting the exhibit Hiding in Plain Sight
Celebrate Métis culture with Métis artisans and live entertainment. A lively event sutiable for the whole family.
Hiding in Plain Site
Discovering the Métis Nation in Archival Records at Library and Archives Canada
In the 18th century, the Hudson’s Bay Company and the North West Company established a series of trading posts for trade with First Nations. A result of these interactions were marital or common-law unions between Europeans involved in the fur trade and First Nations women. In time, their children became what is now known as the Métis Nation.
Identifying Citizens of the Métis Nation in the archival record collections of Library and Archives Canada can be problematic. While there are portraits of well-known leaders and politicians, images depicting Métis Citizens are difficult to find. Adding to this challenge are the archival descriptions, which were mostly created over a century ago and exemplify colonial views of the “other” culture. As a result, Citizens of the Métis Nation have often been misidentified or incorrectly described and, in some cases, completely omitted from the historical record.
This exhibition explores the portrayal of Métis—some of whom are “hiding in plain sight”—in art and photographic collections and the accompanying descriptions.
Library and Archives Canada would like to recognize the knowledge and expertise provided by the Métis National Council and the Manitoba Metis Federation in the creation of this exhibition.
Presented in partnership with Metis Nation BC.
More info