Travelling exhibition - Hiding in Plain Sight

Discovering the Métis Nation in the Archival Records of Library and Archives Canada

About the exhibition

This travelling exhibition was developed by Library and Archives Canada in collaboration with the Manitoba Métis Federation and the Métis National Council, with the support of the Government of Canada.

The exhibition encourages you to:

  • discover the great variety of archival documents in our collection about the Métis Nation
  • explore the portrayal of Métis Citizens—some of whom are "hiding in plain sight"—in art and photographs
  • obtain a better understanding of the history and the culture of the Métis Nation

Travelling schedule

Current location

Dates Location Presented by
July 15 to September 30, 2023 Assiniboia, Saskatchewan Métis Nation-Saskatchewan and the Assiniboia & District Historical Museum

Previous locations

Dates Location Presented by
April 10, 2023 to July 8, 2023 Swift Current, Saskatchewan Métis Nation-Saskatchewan and Swift Current Museum
September 15, 2022 to March 26, 2023 North Battleford (Saskatchewan) Métis Nation-Saskatchewan and Western Development Museum
May 28 to August 28, 2022 Fort Walsh (Saskatchewan) Métis Nation-Saskatchewan and Fort Walsh National Historic Site
December 1, 2021 to April 16, 2022 Lloydminster (Saskatchewan) Lloydminster Museum + Archive and Métis Nation-Saskatchewan
January 4 to November 21, 2021 Smoky Lake, Alberta Métis Crossing and Métis Nation of Alberta
August 12 to December 6, 2020 Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan The Western Development Museum and the Métis Nation—Saskatchewan Western Region 3
January 10 to May 3, 2020 Jasper, Alberta Métis Nation of Alberta and the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives
June 21 to October 27, 2019 Winnipeg, Manitoba Manitoba Metis Federation and the Manitoba Museum
April 6 to June 9, 2019 Pincher Creek, Alberta Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village Métis Nation of Alberta and the Pincher Creek and District Historical Society
December 15, 2018, to March 17, 2019 Red Deer, Alberta Métis Nation of Alberta and the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery
September 29 to November 25, 2018 Surrey, British Columbia Métis Nation of British Columbia and the Museum of Surrey
June 2 to August 26, 2018 Batoche, Saskatchewan Batoche National Historic Site Métis Nation – Saskatchewan, Parks Canada, Friends of Batoche Historic Site Inc., and the Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research
February 3 to May 13, 2018 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Saskatoon Public Library, Round Prairie Branch Métis Nation – Saskatchewan, the Saskatoon Public Library, and the Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research
November 15, 2017, to January 14, 2018 Edmonton, Alberta Métis Nation of Alberta, the Edmonton Public Library and the University of Alberta
June 27 to October 28, 2017 Saint-Boniface, Manitoba Centre du patrimoine Manitoba Metis Federation and the Société historique de Saint-Boniface

The Métis Nation

The Métis emerged as a distinct people or nation in the historic Northwest during the course of the 18th and 19th centuries. This area is known as the "historic Métis Nation Homeland," which includes Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, extending into the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Ontario, Minnesota, Montana and North Dakota.

Photo gallery

A Gentleman Travelling in a Dog Cariole in Hudson's Bay with an Indian Guide
A Gentleman Travelling in a Dog Cariole in Hudson's Bay with an Indian Guide
By Peter Rindisbacher, lithograph, 1825
Library and Archives Canada, e002291419
Manitoba Settler's House and Red River Cart
Manitoba Settler's House and Red River Cart
By William Hind, oil on academy board, circa 1862
Library and Archives Canada, c013965
George McPherson and Family
George McPherson and Family
By an unknown artist, albumen print, 1872
Library and Archives Canada, e011156525
Louis Riel
Louis Riel
By William James Topley, ferrotype, circa 1875
Library and Archives Canada, e011156891
Three York Boats, Swampy Lake, Manitoba
Three York Boats, Swampy Lake, Manitoba
By Robert Bell, albumen print, 1878
Library and Archives Canada, e011156534
Red River Jig
Red River Jig
By W.J. Phillips, woodcut on wove paper, circa 1931
Library and Archives Canada, e010835251

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