Statement on Red River Cart vandalism – U of A

December 16, 2015

Attempted arson on Métis symbol “an education opportunity to strengthen relationships,” says Rupertsland Centre director.

On the lawn in front of Pembina Hall, two important symbols of the University of Alberta’s relationship with Indigenous people stand proudly. Many community members are familiar with the tipi, which has become a welcoming sign of spring on campus when the painted canvas is once again raised around the wooden frame after the last snow melts.

This November, the tipi was joined by a Red River cart, the iconic vehicle used by Métis people to transport their goods across the Canadian plains. The cart was a gift to the Faculty of Native Studies from the Métis Nation of Alberta, signifying the partnership between the MNA and the U of A in the Rupertsland Centre for Métis Research and recognizing the presence of and contributions by Métis people at the university.

Read More: http://nativestudies.ualberta.ca/about-us/news/2015/december/statement-on-red-river-cart-vandalism