Red River Métis "Our Grandmothers" Collection Finds Its Way Home

July 2, 2025

Winnipeg, in the National Homeland of the Red River Métis - The Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF), the National Government of the Red River Métis, proudly announced today the transfer of stewardship of a significant and deeply meaningful cultural collection: the "Our Grandmothers" Collection, which will serve as a foundational element of the Red River Métis National Heritage Centre.

The announcement took place during the MMF's Portage & Main re-opening celebration commemorating the re-opening of the iconic Portage & Main intersection to pedestrian traffic for the first time since 1979. The Heritage Centre, set to open in early 2027, along with MMF-owned commercial office buildings and parking lot are prominently located on the southeast corner of Portage & Main.

On exhibit during the celebration were a selection of rare historic and cultural items that will be permanently housed in the Heritage Centre. These included items collected by the MMF over the past several years - through both purchase and generous donation - such as the poems of Louis Riel, a beaded scout's jacket, fur stretchers from the Turtle Mountain region, and an original ambrotype of Louis Riel Sr. with Guillaume Sayer, who together challenged the Hudson's Bay Company's fur trade monopoly.

The "Our Grandmothers" Collection is a carefully curated body of 142 items assembled over two decades by acclaimed author, professor, and Red River Métis artisan Gregory Scofield. Mr. Scofield, whose ancestry traces back to the historic Red River Métis Community of Kinosota-Reedy Creek, Manitoba, began this work to honour the voices, artistry, and resilience of Red River Métis grandmothers through generations.

"This is more than a collection, it is an artistic and cultural legacy. To research and assemble a collection of this calibre is a notable accomplishment," said MMF Minister of Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Spokeswoman for Infinity Women Secretariat, Anita Campbell. "We are honoured to welcome these pieces to downtown Winnipeg and to the heart of our Homeland, and deeply grateful to Gregory Scofield for his dedication to preserving and protecting our heritage."

The collection includes beadwork, quillwork, silk embroidery, weaving, and textiles, with pieces dating back as early as 1830. Items include clothing, horse blankets, fire bags, wall pockets, and much more representing the full geographic reach of the Red River Métis Homeland and showcasing our mobility, fashion, and identity as a People.

"This acquisition is part of the MMF's ongoing commitment to reclaiming and preserving the history of the Red River Métis, ensuring it is safeguarded, cared for, and celebrated for generations to come," said MMF President David Chartrand. "This moment marks not only a transformative step in the revitalization and renewal of downtown Winnipeg, but also a powerful affirmation of the Red River Métis' re-emerging presence at the heart of our city and our Homeland. Our music, our culture, and our pride are deeply woven into this place, and the return of the grandmothers honours our past, and builds a strong legacy for the future."

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Kat Patenaude
Media Relations Advisor
Manitoba Métis Federation
204-801-7710
Kat.Patenaude@mmf.mb.ca

Believe in Yourself; Believe in Métis.

The Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) is the democratically elected National Government of the Red River Métis, also known as the Manitoba Métis. The Red River Métis are a distinct Indigenous Nation and People and Canada's Negotiating Partners in Confederation and the Founders of the Province of Manitoba.

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