Reconciliation Through Art for Kooshkopayiw Métis Artist Collective

The Kooshkopayiw (Awakening) Arts Collective, a vibrant community of Métis artists, is dedicated to preserving and promoting Métis culture through the power of art.

Their mission is rooted in the belief that art is not only a way to express identity but also a means to keep traditions alive for future generations.

On September 30, 2024, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum in Almonte, Ontario hosted an event to help raise funds for the Collective’s ongoing work. Organized by Métis Elder and local resident Tony Belcourt, this free, day-long event brought together Indigenous artists, performers, and Knowledge Keepers from across Ontario. 

Sponsorship from the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) helped cover artist and performer fees, honorariums for Elders and drummers, travel and shipping costs, and event promotion.

Kooshkopayiw Arts Collective draws inspiration from the words of Louis Riel: “My people will sleep for one hundred years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who give them their spirit back.” Kooshkopayiw’s efforts are rooted in this belief—that artists have the power to awaken the spirit of the Métis people and preserve the stories, traditions, and identities that make their culture unique.

Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall