Métisfest Celebrates “Children of the Fur Traders”

[This article appeared originally in the August 2011 issue of Prairie Independent]

North Dakota has several well-known festivals observing our cultural heritage–like the United Tribes Pow Wow or the Norsk Høstfest. But there’s one annual event you may not have heard of, and it’s already drawing more than 10,000 each August to the International Peace Garden near Dunseith.

Now in its third year, the International Métisfest celebrates the region’s Métis people–descendents of Europeans and Native Americans.

“We’re the children of the fur traders,” says Dan Goodon, Métisfest organizer. The first Métis were born to French, Scottish, or English fathers and Cree, Ojibwa, or Assinboine mothers in the 18th century. Today, Canada’s National Statistics Agency reports about 400,000 Métis can be found throughout that country, while closer to home, Goodon estimates 90% of North Dakota’s Turtle Mountain tribe are descended from Métis.

Here’s a video snatched off Youtube from the 2009 gathering…

The festival highlights the fiddle and step dance of the culture on three stages throughout the weekend. A rendezvous village, voyageur games, and music contests will also take place.
Cultural workshops will explore traditional Metchif language, sash weaving, Red River carts, dance, and beading.

Goodon says the festival, though only a couple years old, has already become important to local communities. He tells stories of long-separated cousins from across the border finding one another at the event and says the weekend feels like a family reunion for many.

At the same time, he encourages people of any background to attend. “This is all about preserving and sharing our culture,” he says.

Of course, the best cultural experiences start with food. Ask Goodon whether Métis have good cuisine, and he’ll tell you: “You betcha, and you’ll get some of it if you come up here.”

Métisfest is held August 26-28, 2011 at the International Peace Garden on the U.S.-Canada border near Dunseith, ND. Tickets are $10 for the three-day weekend and include admission to events, trading post, games, rendezvous village, and workshops.

Tickets for nightly concerts featuring fiddler Ryan Keplin (Friday) and country singer Patricia Conroy (Saturday) are sold separately. Camping is available at the Peace Garden. To enter the Peace Garden, no passport is necessary; however, some form of photo identification is required to re-enter the United States.