Wetaskiwin residents have snapped up all 20 spots for a free Métis cultural workshop at the Wetaskiwin Public Library on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, with five more people on a waiting list. The Fish Scale Art & Métis Presentation runs from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and will combine a hands-on craft with a talk on Métis history and culture by presenter Keith Grant.
The workshop teaches participants how to make a fish scale magnet, a contemporary art form originating from Métis, Cree, and Dene peoples in northern Alberta. The craft uses whitefish scales to create intricate floral designs. After the craft portion, Grant, a Métis cultural educator, will give an engaging presentation sharing knowledge of Métis history and culture.
The library opened registration to adults aged 18 and older, and the response was quick. All 20 spots filled and five extra names joined the waiting list, showing strong local appetite for Indigenous programming. Wetaskiwin has a significant Indigenous population—about 18 percent of the census agglomeration’s 12,115 residents identify as Indigenous, including 520 who identify as Métis, according to the 2021 Census from Statistics Canada.
The city sits on Treaty 6 Territory, the traditional lands of the Cree, Blackfoot, Métis, Nakota Sioux, and many other Indigenous peoples. The City of Wetaskiwin has acknowledged this heritage, and the library’s event comes as communities across Alberta look for more ways to share Indigenous cultures. The library has been building its cultural offerings, and the strong demand for this workshop suggests residents are eager for future events like it.
Anyone who did not get a spot can watch for other programs at the library, which is located at 5002-51 Avenue.
