Update
This story was updated Oct. 1, 2024, with information from Phyllis Kelly.
St. Albert’s public library has received a provincial award for serving up tea, bannock, and Indigenous conversation.
The St. Albert Public Library announced Sept. 25 that it had received a Minister’s Award for Municipal and Public Library Excellence from Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver.
The award recognizes accomplishments in the provision of municipal services in Alberta.
The library received the award for its Community Tea and Bannock program. Launched Jan. 30, 2024, in partnership with the St. Albert–Sturgeon County Métis Local #1904, this free program sees the library host guests in the downstairs reading area of its downtown location for tea, bannock, and conversation.
McIver congratulated the library board for its efforts in a letter.
“I commend you on your efforts to bring people together, facilitate conversations, and support all community members in their Truth and Reconciliation journeys,” he wrote.
The library previously won the Minister’s Award in 2013 for the STARFest literary festival, in 2015 for the ME Card service, and in 2016 for the Reading Buddies program.
St. Albert Public Library community engagement manager Stephanie Foremsky said the library learned it had won this year’s award in July. Officials presented the award to library staff on Sept. 24 during the tea and bannock event held that day to mark the unveiling of St. Albert’s new Every Child Matters crosswalk.
This year’s version of the Minister’s Award consists of a plastic panel wrapped around a piece of wood from a grain elevator that was torn down near Morinville in 2003 all mounted on a metal base.
Foremsky said the group was honoured to receive this recognition, although given how popular it had become, “I think we knew we already had a winner.”
Tea-time takes off
Many St. Albert residents don’t know, or don’t realize they know, someone who is Métis, said Phyllis Kelly, community engagement lead for Métis Local #1904. The library and Local #1904 started the community tea and bannock program to help Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents connect.
“I honestly think that’s a big step toward reconciliation,” Kelly said.
“When you know someone personally, it’s harder to have a bias against people.”
Kelly said the program started with about 50 people but now draws close to a hundred per session, with the Sept. 24 meetup being the biggest yet. Some guests drop by while picking up a book, while others have become repeat visitors and forged friendships. Conversations often turn to aspects of Métis culture and history, with the group’s elders sharing their knowledge of Métis sashes and ribbon skirts, the history of bannock, and other topics.
The program helps guests become more comfortable with speaking with each other by having them break bread together as equals, Foremsky said. The peaceful conversations that follow lie at the core of reconciliation.
“It’s just as simple as having conversations with your neighbours.”
Foremsky said program participants have sampled a variety of teas this year, but have yet to find a reliable source of hot water for the teapots. While they initially got their bannock from the Edmonton Inn, they now source it from Fiddler Family Services (an Indigenous-run support home in St. Albert that helps reunite families broken up by child welfare services).
Fiddler Family Services director and program participant Jessie Fiddler said she decided to make the bannock as a way to give back to the community. Her staff and clients make about 100 pieces of bannock for each meetup, with the Sept. 24 one requiring about 300.
Fiddler said Indigenous people are often viewed with suspicion in public due to racism and don’t always feel comfortable in libraries. This program shows that libraries are open to everyone, and brings life and laughter to what is often seen as a strict, stringent place. The gatherings have also given her a chance to help break stereotypes and share knowledge about Métis culture.
“As Indigenous people, we’re just like everyone else,” Fiddler said.
“We can take up space in a library, and everyone is welcome, everyone is safe.”
Kelly said the local hopes to keep the tea and bannock program going beyond this year if it can find the necessary funds.
The community tea and bannock program runs on the last Tuesday of every month from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the front lobby of the downtown public library. Visit sapl.ca for details.
