History of Saskatoon Métis Local 126
Early years
Saskatoon Métis Local 126 was established by a group of Métis students at the University of Saskatchewan in around 1977. At the time, if you want to take a Cree class, it was available as Anthropology 102. If you were looking for cultural and history topics, the History department had some classes on Métis. Indigenous content was spread across multiple departments, and it wasn't easy for students to find classes on Indigenous topics, and especially ones with Métis content.
At the time, the leadership of Local 126 consisted of John Dorion of Cumberland House, Verna ST. Denis from Debden, and Lyle Mueller and Earl Cook from Cumberland House. They were all students in the College of Education with the Indian Teacher Education Program (ITEP). They came up with an idea to establish a new program at the University of Saskatchewan that would affirm the value and dignity of Indigenous societies and bring everything under one program.
The Local 126 executive met with Dr. Leo Krisjanson, President of the university, and he was supportive. Dean Farquar, Dean of Education, was also supportive. Dean Cherry of Arts and Science explained to the team the seven steps they had to go through for the process to move their idea forward. The Local 126 executive had a meeting where they invited supporters: Dr. Cecil King of Indian and Northern Studies-College of Education, Dr. Michael Tymchak-Director of NORTEP, Keith Goulet (a founder of NORTEP), and Dr. Cathy Littlejohn and Orest Murawsky of ITEP.
An ad hoc committee was struck in 1981 to review the proposal through the College of Arts and Science, and the committee recommended that such a program be created. The Native Studies Programme was officially introduced at the University of Saskatchewan in 1982, and the success led to the establishment of the Department of Native Studies in 1983. Further building on this success, the department began offering graduate programs four years later.
From the September 1978 edition of the New Breed magazine, this photo features members of the first Local 126 leadership as young student researchers working for the Association of Métis and Non-Status Indians of Saskatchewan (forerunner to Métis Nation—Saskatchewan) in the summer of 1978. They researched Métis history and organized a series of Indigenous rights workshops in communities across Northern Saskatchewan to help community members to become more aware of progress being made about Indigenous rights.
The 1980s and 1990s
Saskatoon Métis Local 126 continued to be active at the University of Saskatchewan. Memberships in the local grew rapidly, and the student leadership of the local showed their passion for building a stronger and better Métis nation. They advocated on behalf of Métis students to the provincial, federal, and Métis governments. Many of the leaders of the Local during this period went on to hold elected offices and leadership positions with various Métis Nation governments and organizations.
Unfortunately, the local stopped activity in the early 2000s, and went inactive (though it was not dissolved).
The 2010s and beyond
Saskatoon Métis Local 126 resumed activities in 2016 under the leadership of Rebecca Major (President), Adam McInnes (Vice President), and Erin Hurton (Secretary/Treasurer). Since then, the Local has worked to engage with partners and support the Métis community on campus and work as part of the larger Métis community across Western Region IIa, Métis Nation – Saskatchewan, and the Métis Homeland. We are working to promote our histories, languages, philosophies, and oral and literary traditions as Métis people, train new generations of Métis leaders, as well as learn about and build our traditional institutions and lifestyles.
