Tea, bannock, and Métis history are back on the menu in St. Albert as a popular program returns to the public library.
About 30 people chatted culture over hot tea and fried dough Aug. 17 at the downtown St. Albert Public Library to kick off the renewed community tea and bannock event. Run in partnership with the St. Albert Métis District (formerly the St. Albert–Sturgeon County Métis Local #1904), this free event lets guests meet Métis residents at the library once a month over tea and bannock to learn more about Indigenous culture.
The program was a hit during its first run last January to November, with many sessions drawing about 100 guests. It won the library a Minister’s Award for Municipal and Public Library Excellence from Alberta Municipal Affairs last September.
“We heard for months that many people were missing tea and bannock and asking when it was going to come back,” said library community engagement manager Stephanie Foremsky.
The Métis local also wanted to bring the event back, but was busy in recent months with its transformation into the 11th district of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government (which represents the Métis in Alberta), explained district councillor Phyllis Kelly. That process wrapped up in early July with the election of the district’s councillors and captain. Instead of just St. Albert and Sturgeon County, the district now represents a zone around Edmonton that includes St. Albert, about half of Sturgeon County, Waskatenau, Ryley, and Camrose.
Kelly and Foremsky said the district and library plan to keep these meetups going for at least a year, if not indefinitely.
It's great to once again see people coming out to learn more about Métis culture and history, said program co-founder Amanda Patrick.
“This just creates a space where you can meet other Métis people.”
New time and place
One big change to the program is its time and place. Instead of always meeting at the downtown library on the last Tuesday morning of every month, tea and bannock will now happen on the 17th at various times and places to open it to a wider audience. Kelly and Foremsky said organizers chose the 17th because Aug. 17 happened to be the last day of this year’s summer reading game.
St. Albert United Church member Janice McGregor has attended the tea and bannock events almost from the start, and said she has learned a lot about ribbon skirts and the Métis community through it. She sees the group as a way to do her part for truth and reconciliation.
“The more you can meet people on an individual basis, the greater your knowledge and understanding of the issues,” she said.
Tea and bannock veteran and St. Albert Métis resident Lynn Martin said it was wonderful to see the meetups return. The events let her meet new people and learn about Indigenous culture from guest artists.
“We want everyone to know there’s Métis here and they’re more than welcome to come join us.”
Kelly said organizers hoped to expand the tea and bannock program to other libraries in the St. Albert district, which has some 7,000 Métis residents.
The next community tea and bannock is Sept. 17 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Jensen Lakes Library. No registration is required, Foremsky said — just come with an open mind and empty stomach. Check the library’s events calendar for details on future tea and bannock sessions.
