Welcome
Taanshi Kiiyawow!
My name is Faith Trottier, and I am a Michif person (Métis) based out of the unseeded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples, otherwise known as Vancouver. I have called these lands home for the past decade, and I am extremely grateful to live and be able to bead and practice my own displaced culture on these lands.
On my mother’s side, we are Métis from Saskatchewan. We’re originally from the Round Prairie Métis Settlement, just outside of Saskatoon. We are Trottiers, Lemire’s and Laframboises. Sadly, we are a displaced Métis family, as our settlement was taken from the Canadian government in my great-grandfather’s generation, leaving my grandfather to live on the Road Allowances of Saskatoon as a child. I grew up knowing I was Métis, and practicing culture – in this, I am privileged to, and grateful to my mother and the many matriarchs in my family who ensured I was raised being a proud Michif woman.
On my fathers, we are Alberta Métis and my grandmother’s community is in Kinuso AB. My grandmother, great-grandparents, and great-grandparents all lived in Kinuso. Before this, we were part of the Lac St Anne Métis settlement. Our family names are L’hirondelle, Bellerose, and Delorme – and you can find us in many of the Métis settlements in Alberta. My great uncle is Maurice L’hirondelle, founder of the Federation of Métis settlements in Alberta.
I was raised by many different Indigenous Peoples, as most of my life I have been a guest here in BC. I have felt the love of my many family members from Lilloeet and Skatin. All my grandfathers’ brothers married into FN here in the West Coast. I was also raised by my late Cree adopted dad, Jackie Riehl, most of my life. As well as, the Métis teachings both my parents gave me while growing up.
I have been beading for the past 5 years, and I have learned from so many incredible Indigenous artists and hands. I am grateful to my Auntie Alma and my mom who sat me down one day and taught me to bead. To Denise McCuaig, who taught me the traditional Métis “two-stitch” method. To elder Lily Rose from Métis Crossing who taught me how to tuft. To Lisa Shepherd who taught me how to make fire bags (and being constantly inspired by her work). And to Gregory Scofield who is currently teaching me how to create Traditional Métis Wall-pockets. It takes a community to help uplift Indigenous artists, and I am so incredibly grateful to all those who’ve sat with me during beading circles and shared our love for beading.
Thank you to all who made it this far in reading my introduction.
Different hats that I wear, is that I am a UBC 5th year student studying Psychology and minoring in First Nations and Indigenous studies. I make tiktok’s in which I sometimes rant about Métis politics. I’m an artist, a musician, an academic, a daughter, and a community member. All proceeds I make go towards my education. Thank you! 🙂
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