GDI is a Saskatchewan-based educational, employment and cultural institute serving Métis across the province
Jul 9, 2024
Posted in: achievement, Books, GDI, GDI Press, Métis, Publishing, recognition
The following article was originally published in the GDI Communicator Vol. 18 Issue 5, May 2024. The Communicator is a monthly internal newsletter intended to celebrate the achievements of the management and staff of the Gabriel Dumont Institute. You can find the archive of previous issues in the Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture.
Congratulations to Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI) Press which garnered two wins at the 2024 Saskatchewan Book Awards. kôhkominawak ocihcîwâwa—Our Grandmother’s Hands: Repatriating Métis Material Art by Gregory Scofield won two awards: The Indigenous Peoples’ Publishing Award and the Publishing in Education Award. The book also made the shortlist for the Publishing Award. Unfortunately, Gregory was ineligible for the writing awards because he does not reside in Saskatchewan. This book contains hundreds of beautiful photos of Métis material culture, from clothing to accessories, like hats, gloves, mittens, and bags, to home décor, such as window valences, wall pockets, and doilies. Gregory has personally been repatriating handmade goods by previous generations Métis women—items located in museums and private collections around the world. Early collectors admired the unmistakable beauty and artistry of these items and acquired them through trade, gifts, or purchase. These pieces display the hard work and artistry of Métis women who often had to part with them to supplement their family’s income, and even to survive, after the 1885 Resistance displaced and impoverished many Métis families. The book also contains an historical overview on Métis material culture by Dr. Sherry Farrell Racette. The book will change the way art and museum curators and private collectors identify and attribute provenance to the pieces in their collections as so many are mislabeled. It is Gregory Scofield’s hope that all of these “grandmothers” return home to the Métis. We are grateful to his insights and efforts.
Congratulations also to Joan Pelletier. Her book, Lebret—Looking Back and Beyond: An Autobiography, was nominated for the First Book Award, an accolade in itself considering the high volume of books submitted.
GDI is a Saskatchewan-based educational, employment and cultural institute serving Métis across the province
