Within the rich lineage of Alberta Métis Cultural History and indigenous history overall, Rose Auger offers up her own experiences.
The faith in fellow Metis people and enjoying being a Metis person came across when speaking with Auger.
Alberta Métis Cultural History
When asked “what do you know about the earliest members moving to Paddle Prairie in 1938 and 39 and some of the challenges and successes they had early on”, Auger said, “Well, we moved here when mom said I was three. So it was 1942... I moved here it was supposed to be Adolphus Ghostkeeper my mom always said.”
When talking about some of the Metis cultural practices that are important to Auger, she stated, “What is important to me is picking up medicine. Like Metis and stuff like that. Something that was taught by my grandma.”
As far as hunting, fishing, or trapping stories that were special to her, Auger quipped, “Well I had a trap line towards Gordon River. I had partners up there. I was with Malcolm and Richard Auger.”
In regards to finding the right hunting, tracking, and killing of animals, Auger said, “Living with my grandparents. Because my grandparents I was with them a lot when they were trapping.”
Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement
Utilizing every part of a moose like using its head to create a gun rack is of paramount importance. This is done so as to not waste anything hunted. Gathering medicines like rat root, balsam bark, and mint tea were good for the lungs and to heal a myriad of ailments.
In terms of if her traditional Michif language is important to her, Auger stated, “All I know is Cree. I don’t know any other. Just Cree and English. When I was eight years old, I went to school. I didn’t know one word of English. Suffered for the whole year… I was eight years old here… Not one word of English and I suffered for a whole year. I couldn’t say who hit me or anything like that. It was rough. But I kept coming, kept coming, and finally learned my English. It’s different. Now that I knew my English, anybody hit me, I hit them right back. I get into trouble now.”
Finally, when asked about the most important things that she would want to preserve and pass on to future generations, Auger quipped, “I would love this generation to have their culture. And you know, in a native way.”
Liberty Multimedia Inc. and Paddle Prairie Métis Settlement would like to thank Alberta Culture for its support of these interviews and dedication to preserving Alberta’s history.