Project: Métis Digital Storytelling Project

The Toronto York Region Métis Council digital storytelling workshop took place over four full days in November 2014. Each session opened with cultural teachings from our knowledge keepers. They shared their medicines and smudging, sang, told stories and shared teachings about politics, identity, mental health, spirituality, and community. The participants ranged in age from 20s-60s, providing the opportunity for multi-generational sharing and learning. Participants shared stories of addiction, homelessness, losing our sense of place, reunification with family, denial of culture, two-spirited identity, residential schools, historical research and finding community. Throughout the workshop, there was a constant affirmation of identity, in particular, with participants feeling a similar sense that they are always measuring ‘how métis’ they are, or what right they have to claim this cultural identity.

On Saturday November 15, 2014, the Toronto and York Region Métis Council hosted a Louis Riel day celebration with a potluck, jigging and fiddling, and a screening of digital stories.  Each storyteller presented to the audience about their experiences with the digital storytelling project, and the whole community honoured them. In the future, the Toronto and York Region Métis Council plans to continue to share the digital stories as part of cultural events, educational activities and community gatherings.

“I think the benefit of digital storytelling is three-fold: It brings Métis people together, shows us how similar we are in our lives, and it will help preserve what being Métis means to us in 2014 for future generations.”
Digital Storytelling Participant

“It made me far more open in terms of what it means to be Métis. In hearing other stories, I learned that métisness is much more inclusive than I thought. This makes it easier to accept myself and feel at home in the community as well. “
Digital Storytelling Participant