A new hands-on workshop in Thompson will give locals a chance to learn traditional rattle-making techniques from a community elder. The First Annual Rattle Making Workshop begins Saturday, July 18, 2026, at noon and continues through Sunday, July 19, ending at 5 p.m., at the Mall of The Arts location at 300 Mystery Lake Road.
The two-day session will be led by Community Elder Malcolm Spence and is open to everyone, with registration costing $50. Participants will not only make their own ceremonial rattle but also learn about the materials and their cultural significance. Rattles are traditionally used in ceremonies like sweat lodges, and the workshop aims to share that knowledge directly with the community.
Mall of The Arts is a registered charity that works to bring creative programming to northern Manitoba. This new annual event fits with Thompson’s broader commitment to Indigenous cultural awareness. In 2009, the city became one of few Canadian municipalities to sign an Indigenous Accord, which now guides its operations and planning. About 35 to 60 percent of Thompson’s population identifies as Indigenous.
The workshop comes shortly after the city’s annual National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations, which have drawn over a thousand people to MacLean Park in recent years. It also follows more than a decade of investment by the Thompson Urban Aboriginal Strategy, which has put over $5 million into local Indigenous initiatives.
Space is available for anyone interested in connecting with Indigenous traditions and learning a new craft. More details and registration can be found on the Mall of The Arts event page.
