Louis Riel Institute

Venez participer à notre épluchette de maïs annuelle !
AOûT 15 - 12H à 16h

Join the Louis Riel Institute for Read and Jig with the Red River Métis—a fun, interactive morning featuring storytelling and basic jigging lessons! 📚💃

📅 Dates: Tuesdays (August 4, 11, 18, and 25)
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Location: Riel House National Historic Site (330 River Road, St. Vital)
🎟️ Admission: FREE • No registration required!
👧 Best for: Elementary-aged children & families

Bring the family and drop in for a morning of history, movement, and fun!

For questions, reach out to [email protected]

Learn more: https://www.louisrielinstitute.ca/

Join us for our Annual Corn Roast at Riel House National Historic Site!

Bring your family, a lawn chair or blanket, and enjoy an afternoon full of delicious corn roast, live Red River Métis music, cultural presentations, and kids' activities!

📅 Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Location: 330 River Road, St. Vital (Winnipeg, MB)
🎟️ Admission: Free Entry • No Registration Required

✉️ Questions? Email us at [email protected] or visit https://www.louisrielinstitute.ca/
See you there!

“For this month's ACA hashtag party, we are celebrating the work being completed by the summer archive staff! They are working hard to digitize VHS tapes, cassettes, DVDs and CDs, reel-to-reel audio, and more. They have completed over 300 entries so far, with many more to go!

Check out the digitized items here: Browse Digital Heritage | https://lriarchives.ca/digital-heritage/media-type/video?page=5

”

What a wonderful day of connection, culture, language, and shared learning at the historic Riel House!

On June 20, the Red River Métis Circle of Educators welcomed educators from across Manitoba to strengthen relationships, deepen their understanding of Red River Métis history and traditions, and celebrate our growing community of educators.

Highlights included:

Opening & closing prayer with Elder Shirley Langan
Live music by Ryan Spence & René Jobin
Michif French language workshop with Dave Lavallee - Lavallee Tradition
Finger weaving, jigging, and a historic house tour with the Louis Riel Institute Cultural Program team

Thank you to the Fondation Rideau Hall Foundation for supporting this meaningful gathering!

Learn more about our programs: https://www.louisrielinstitute.ca/

“LRI’s archival collection includes more than just paper documents—it also preserves artifacts that reflect the rich heritage of Red River Métis culture and its lasting influence on Canadian history.
The first image (left to right) features a pair of moccasins beautifully decorated with intricate floral beadwork, showcasing the artistry and craftsmanship of Métis makers.
The second image is a miniature birchbark canoe painted with the Métis infinity flag. Lightweight and durable, birchbark canoes were essential for summer travel and transporting goods across waterways.
The third image shows a pair of snowshoes with traditional rawhide webbing. Their shape distributes a person's weight across the snow—much like a snowshoe hare’s large feet—allowing for easier travel through deep snow. Originally developed and used by Indigenous Peoples for winter transportation, snowshoes later became a popular recreational activity and sport across Canada.”

Would you like to view materials at the Louis Riel Institute Archives and Special Collections?
Email [email protected] to book an appointment.
Our archival staff is happy to help with your questions and guide you in using our archival resources.

Step back in time and discover the heart of the Red River Métis history!

The Louis Riel Institute invites you on our Historic Red River Métis Tours. Whether you're exploring the influential legacy of Louis Riel or diving into the stories of the River Lot Systems and Cuthbert Grant, our expert-led bus tours bring history to life right where it happened.

🚌 What we offer:

Louis Riel Bus Tour: Journey through Winnipeg to pivotal landmarks shaping Manitoba’s entry into Confederation.

Cuthbert Grant Bus Tour: Explore the early 1800s along the Red and Assiniboine rivers.

Custom Tours: Tailor an unforgettable experience to your group's specific interests!

Spaces are limited to 23 guests per tour.

Contact us at [email protected] to save your seats!

Public Programs at Riel House from July 2 to August 28, 2026!
Daily programming on site - ask for the Red River Métis experience!

Check out this tshirt celebrating the 10th anniversary of Pemmican Publications, discovered in the Louis Riel Institute Archives and Special Collections. Pemmican Publications was incorporated as a publishing house in October 1980.