A sash of their own

Home Story A sash of their own

Traditional Metis sash. NAKA festival NWT. Sarah Pruys — A sash of their own

Learn more about the vibrant culture and rich history of the Métis in the Northwest Territories, where they make up approximately one-tenth of the population. Descendants of European newcomers and Indigenous peoples from over 300 years ago, the Métis make their home primarily in the communities of Hay River, Fort Resolution, and Fort Smith. In the Northwest Territories, there are many opportunities to become more familiar with the unique lifestyle, traditions, and culture of the Northern Métis, who have played an integral role in the region’s development since the 18th century.

Metis Fiddlers in Fort Providence in the Northwest territories — Métis have a storied history in the NWT

Métis voyageurs were renowned for guiding traders through new and shorter routes to the Northern fur country, establishing posts in what is now Fort Resolution in the 1780s. By the mid-1800s, figures like François Beaulieu II and François Baptiste became key guides and interpreters, aiding British explorers like Sir John Franklin and Sir George Back. As steamboats arrived in the late 1880s, Métis people took on roles as boat-builders, trackers, and pilots. Notably, Joseph King Beaulieu founded trading posts at Fond du Lac and Fort Smith, and other communities like Jean River and Rocher River were also established by Métis during this era.

Today, you can learn about the rich Métis heritage by visiting national parks in the NWT such as Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve and Wood Buffalo, where Métis hunters and trappers have practiced traditional methods for generations. The Métis, known as “gens libres” or “the free people” in Michif French, are recognized as a distinct Indigenous group in Canada. Visitors can learn about their history and traditions at park centers and through active Métis organizations in the NWT.

Metis traditional arts. NAKA Festival in the Northwest Territories. Photo Sarah Pruys — Experience Métis Arts

Métis have often been referred to as the “Flower Beadwork People” because of the elaborate designs of Métis beadwork experts. You will find many retailers throughout the NWT carry Métis craft, including cozy slippers or other uniquely decorated items.

Many communities are home to studios where you can meet NWT Métis artists, such as Michel Labine of Fort Smith, a stained glass artist whose works are found as far away from the NWT as Australia.

Dawn Oman, a Métis artist, has become well known for her iconic renderings of Northern Lights displays in the NWT, caribou, inukshuks and polar bears, displayed on everything from prints to mugs. The Royal Canadian Mint also chose Oman’s art for the Festivals of Canada Series silver 50-cent collectors coin.

Narwal Adventure Voyeager canoe in the NWT. — Get to know Métis Culture

But where’s a good place to start? In Yellowknife, you can visit the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, which includes exhibitions about Métis throughout the NWT, which feature stunning examples of traditional artistry such as a caribou hide jacket and black velvet hat featuring elaborate beadwork.

Also in Yellowknife, you can experience what the Métis way of life was in the past by travelling by 29-foot voyageur canoe. On this tour, experienced guides will lead you up the Yellowknife River and along the way sample a traditional meal consisting of soup, bannock and beverages and be entertained by the songs of the Métis voyageurs.

Every June 21, on National Indigenous Peoples Day, the North Slave Métis Alliance hosts a fish fry and stage show at Yellowknife’s Somba K’e Civic Plaza. This daylong event features fiddle music and jigging and you may see more than a few people wearing the official sash of the NWT Métis.

Metis weaving at Naka Festival in the NWT. Photo Sara Pruys — A Sash that Honours Métis Heritage and History

To honour Métis communities throughout the NWT, Lisa Hudson, a Métis woman born and raised in Fort Smith, designed the official sash of the NWT Métis.

Her handiwork is part of a long tradition in Métis culture. The Métis sash or the ceinture fléchée in French — also dubbed the L’Assomption sash after the settler town in Quebec where it was first produced — is the most notable traditional garment in Métis culture .

For the NWT sash, Hudson picked each arrow-shaped colour to symbolize different aspects of the North — magenta for fireweed, blue for the NWT’s waterways, gold for the sun, deep green for the boreal forest and more.

If you wish to learn more about Metis culture, history, and traditions, you can visit the Northwest Territories Metis Nation, the North Slave Metis Alliance, and the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre.

Every community across the NWT has its own timeless history of storytelling through art. Read more to learn what makes each practice unique and where you can find authentic Indigenous art from artists across the territory.

The Northwest Territories is made spectacular by the thriving cultures, deep histories, and rich traditions of the people who call it home. Learn more about how we celebrate Indigenous People’s Day in the North.

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