Our Policies

Inclusivity And Dignity

Everyone is welcome at Experience Métis workshops. We are committed to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive space where people of all backgrounds, races, nationalities, genders, sexual orientations, religions, and socio-economic statuses are embraced. While we welcome open minds and diverse perspectives, we do not tolerate views rooted in harm, hatred or exclusion.

If you need assistance to attend a workshop, we warmly encourage you to reach out to us at info@experiencemetis.ca—we’re here to help make your experience accessible and welcoming.

Below is an overview of how our programs are organized, along with guidance on choosing the right format for your group.

Experiences
An Experience is a single session or a series of sessions led by a Métis culture keeper who provides instruction and cultural context. Culture keepers may incorporate the surrounding landscape, natural materials, traditional tools and methods, storytelling, and lived experience to enrich learning and invite participants into a Métis worldview. Experiences may be offered as one-time events or as recurring teachings that allow for deeper engagement over time.

Residencies
A Residency is a multi-day program made up of many Experiences. Residencies are well suited for schools, universities, and larger communities that serve multiple groups or require a range of programming. Residencies are offered in 3- or 5-day formats. A 3-day residency typically includes 12–15 Experiences, while a 5-day residency includes 18–20 Experiences. Schedules are customized to meet the needs of your community.

Workshops
The term workshop is often used interchangeably with Experience, particularly when referring to arts- and crafts-based offerings.

Programs
A Program refers to the customized collection of Experiences and/or Workshops designed for your group, or a Residency created to meet your specific goals and context.

Our workshops are for any group seeking to learn about Métis culture, art & nature relationships in a respectful way. We work with Métis and other Indigenous communities, schools, colleges and universities, professional associations, nonprofits, faith and community organizations, and corporate groups. Offerings can be tailored for adults, children, youth, elders, and mixed-age groups, and are well suited for classrooms, lunch-and-learns, conferences, and community events.

Programs are available in the Greater Calgary Area, including Airdrie, Calgary, Okotoks, Cochrane, High River, Chestermere, and surrounding towns. Travel fees may apply for programs outside these areas – please see Residency Programs Across Alberta below for more information.

Experience Métis does not currently operate from a permanent culture camp space. Instead, we offer experiences at your location, in one of your city’s green spaces or parks, or at a venue of your choosing.

The Red River Cart, Trapper’s Tent, and Culture Camp are transportable experiences that can be set up in most large indoor or outdoor spaces. A flat, accessible area is required, and access to the space must allow for setup and takedown. Booking and coordination of the venue are the responsibility of the client. Please contact us for details about the transportable Culture Camp experiences.

Please note that some locations may have limited wheelchair accessibility. If you have any questions or specific accessibility needs, we encourage you to contact us at info@experiencemetis.ca before your workshop or experience.

Outdoor experiences—such as medicine walks—can be arranged in most parks in Calgary, Okotoks, Cochrane, High River or Airdrie. Our cities offer a beautiful variety of natural spaces to explore, and we’re happy to help you choose a suitable location. 

Residency Programs Across Alberta

We can provide 4 or 5 day residency programs across Alberta in Metis Arts, Medicine and Culture. Travel fees may apply to accommodate the needs of the culture keeper during their visit.

  • A confirmation email with workshop details will be sent to all registered guests—or to the group organizer—the week before your event. This email will be delivered to the address you provided at registration, so please check your SPAM or Junk folder, as our messages occasionally land there. To ensure you receive updates, we recommend adding info@experiencemetis.ca to your list of safe senders.

    We’re also working on bringing select workshops online through video and Zoom sessions. As these become available, they’ll be listed on our Experience page.

    Please note: audio or video recording during workshops is not permitted without prior consent from the instructor.

    We advise checking your email on the day of your experience in case of last-minute changes. Workshops may be cancelled or rescheduled due to instructor illness, unsafe weather, or other unforeseen circumstances. For more details, please refer to our full refund and cancellation policy below.

Group workshop bookings require a deposit, with full payment due two weeks before the workshop date or prior to ordering supplies—whichever comes first.

To get started, please email us at info@experiencemetis.ca. We’d be happy to provide a quote, prepare a funding proposal, or issue an invoice tailored to your needs.

We understand that illness can come up unexpectedly. If you’re unable to attend a workshop or experience due to illness, we’re happy to offer a raincheck or allow you to transfer your ticket to someone else. Please email info@experiencemetis.ca as soon as possible before the start time of your experience to let us know.

Before booking an outdoor experience—such as a Tree Medicine Plant Walk—please consider the weather and your comfort with spending approximately two hours outdoors. Dressing appropriately for the conditions with weather-appropriate clothing and protective gear is essential for your safety and enjoyment.

Outdoor experiences will proceed in light rain or snow, in temperatures above -10°C and below 30°C. However, weather-related cancellations may occur on short notice under the following conditions:

  • Temperatures below -10°C or above 30°C when no shelter is available

  • Severe weather, including high winds, heavy rain or snow, smoke, or any condition that compromises safety

Your safety and comfort are our top priorities. If a guest arrives in clothing that is unsafe or inadequate for the conditions, the instructor may choose to cancel or reschedule the experience at their discretion.

  • 30 Days Before the Event: For large group bookings, we request an estimated participant count, a 10% deposit based on your total booking cost, and full payment of any non-refundable expenses we may incur on your behalf (e.g., venue or equipment rentals).

  • Cancellations Up to 7 Days Before: You may cancel at no charge, aside from any non-refundable costs already incurred.

  • Cancellations 6–3 Days Before: A $150 administration fee will apply, in addition to any non-refundable costs incurred.

  • Cancellations Less Than 48 Hours Before: Deposits are non-refundable. However, the remaining balance (minus the $150 admin fee and non-refundable costs) can be credited toward a future booking within 18 months of the original date.

  • Final Payment: The balance is due on the day of the event, before the booking end time. We accept payment by cheque, e-transfer, or credit card.

We accept payment by e-transfer as well as credit card via Stripe for workshops and experiences. If you’d like to pay by credit card, please request a Stripe invoice at the time of booking.

Experience Métis values your privacy—your identifying, credit card, and payment information is never stored or shared.