The Otipemisiwak Métis Government will host its first-ever Kitchen Party tour stop at the Rocky Mountain House Historic Site on Friday, July 24, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Guided by the spirit of Âstam Pi Kîyoki, or “Come and Visit,” the tour is designed to strengthen connections among citizens and celebrate Métis traditions and culture.

A Métis kitchen party is a lively social gathering, says Otipemisiwak Métis Government president Andrea Sandmaier, adding that celebrations feature music, dancing, storytelling, children’s activities and community connection.

“We felt it was really important to get out into the community and celebrate our Métis identity, history and people,” says Sandmaier, adding that Rocky Mountain House was a priority for the inaugural tour because of its rich history as a fur trade hub dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.

Today, Métis citizens in the region continue to participate in cultural revitalization, governance, harvesting traditions, education and historical preservation, she says.

Sandmaier says many Métis people across Alberta have been reconnecting with their culture in recent years, and the Kitchen Party tour is intended to help support that journey.

The tradition of kitchen parties stems from a time when some Métis people felt unsafe celebrating openly in their communities. Sandmaier says the earliest gatherings were held inside family homes with the curtains closed. Once the fiddle music started and people began jigging, however, the celebrations often spilled outdoors.

Today, the tradition is celebrated openly.

The tour kicked off May 19 in Edmonton and has since made stops in Grande Prairie, Fort Chipewyan, St. Albert, Peace River, Conklin and Fort Vermilion.

Rocky Mountain House is the third-last stop on the tour, followed by Hinton on July 25 and Whitecourt on July 26.

The tour has so far been extremely well received, says Sandmaier, adding that discussions are already underway about making it an annual event. Everyone — whether Indigenous or non-Indigenous — is invited to attend the free event.

Sandmaier says attendees can expect an evening of live music, children’s activities and an opportunity to get to know their Métis neighbours.

“We hope to see lots of people out there — we’ll even teach you how to jig.”