A new gallery in Surrey showcases M茅tis culture and language in a third-floor space at Gateway Station Tower, a stop on SkyTrain鈥檚 Expo line.
Amelia Douglas Institute, or ADI, was officially opened Jan. 29 by M茅tis Nation British Columbia (MNBC), and now welcomes visitors who pre-book a one-hour time slot.
The gallery, roughly the size of a two-bedroom condo, amplifies the MNBC mandate to educate, promote and support truth, healing and reconciliation in a meaningful way.
The art and cultural exhibits, which currently showcase M茅tis tobacco bags and gauntlet mittens, will rotate every couple of months. Featured are interactive exhibits and artwork from prominent M茅tis artists, as well as historical artifacts relevant to the M茅tis experience in B.C.
Launched last year, a website () serves as an online portal for the gallery space, at #380-13401 108 Ave., adjacent to MNBC headquarters in Surrey. Exhibits are also showcased on .
The gallery is named after Amelia Douglas, a strong M茅tis voice in the early history of B.C. and wife of the first governor James Douglas.
The aim of the ADI is to also be a gathering place where M茅tis citizens can connect with their heritage and with one another through educational programs and cultural initiatives.
鈥淭his new cultural hub will help ensure that our history, traditions and languages are shared, celebrated and passed on to future generations,鈥� said , MNBC鈥檚 Minister of Culture, Heritage and Language.
Harriott spent most of his childhood in Manitoba where he frequently hunted and picked chokecherries with his grandfather on their family鈥檚 M茅tis scrip lands, according to a bio. He moved to Victoria where his lifelong love of plants and connection with nature led to training in horticulture, after which he founded a landscaping and gardening company.
A love of M茅tis culture and community drew him to volunteer his time with M茅tis Nation Greater Victoria. He spent nine years on the organization鈥檚 board of directors, including four as president. Harriott helped organize two consecutive M茅tis rendezvous on Vancouver Island and create a Michif language program in Victoria.
Lissa Dawn Smith, president of MNBC, calls the opening of the ADI 鈥渁n important milestone in our journey of self- government and self-determination as M茅tis people. We invite everyone to visit, learn, and share in our vibrant living culture at the Amelia Douglas Institute.鈥�
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Planned April 16 is 鈥淥ur Grandmothers鈥� Hands: Repatriating M茅tis Material,鈥� presented by Gregory Scofield. The artist talk, open to M茅tis people only, will introduce an exhibition to feature 3D digital renderings of nine M茅tis material art pieces curated from Scofield鈥檚 personal collection of artifacts. .
The ADI does not currently welcome walk-in visits, which are limited to 10 people per booking. To inquire about bookings for larger groups, email info@adinstitute.ca.
Admission rates vary; it鈥檚 free for M茅tis citizens with a suggested donation of $5 per person, and for others admission is $5 minimum donation, per person. All proceeds support cultural and language revitalization programs.
Rules say that any photographs taken in the gallery must be for personal use only, and closeups of artwork are not to be shared on social media, the internet or anywhere else without permission from the artist or director of the ADI.
M茅tis Nation British Columbia represents the Section 35 rights () of more than 25,000 M茅tis citizens who are registered with MNBC, and advocates for the over 98,000 self-identified M茅tis in the province.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
鈥� Elsewhere in Surrey, an event called 鈥淢茅tis: Children of the Fur Trade鈥� returns to on Saturday, April 13, from noon to 4 p.m. The annual gathering, held in partnership with the Delta M茅tis Association, invites visitors to enjoy stories and performances 鈥渁bout the rich and diverse M茅tis heritage with an engaging exploration of both current and historical traditions.鈥�
The event in Cloverdale (17710 56A Ave.) will feature a variety of M茅tis activities including jigging with M茅tis Bev Dance Group, performances by V鈥檔i Dansi and Waceya Dance Troupe, stories, crafts and more, along with market vendors and food.
鈥淭here is a vibrant M茅tis population living in the City of Surrey,鈥� said Lynn Saffery, MOS manager. 鈥淪taff and volunteers love hosting this annual event, where visitors have the opportunity to increase their understanding and learn about the rich heritage of the M茅tis, one of Canada鈥檚 Indigenous peoples.鈥�
