ABOUT the fort mcmurray métis trading post
Fort McMurray Métis Trading Post is a place for celebrating Indigenous culture, heritage, and teachings.
Born out of a passion for sharing cultural practices and anchored in the history of the historic Beaver Lake Trading Post, the Fort McMurray Métis Trading Post offers visitors a variety of traditional items for purchase, barter, consignment, and trading. At the Trading Post we believe that everyone has a gift to share with the world, this is a place to share those gifts and to learn from the warm hearts and open minds of others.
Our Mission is to support artisans of all walks in life. We believe that having an open-door policy is an important part of truth and reconciliation in Canada. We are one human race, and all deserve to be treated as such.
At the Fort McMurray Métis Trading Post visitors can experience Indigenous traditions and support Indigenous artists and artisans by purchasing traditionally influenced goods. The Trading Post sells a variety of goods including locally harvested teas and plant medicines, cultural apparel, and traditional art.
The Trading Post is also regularly featured at the YMM Urban Farmers Market, located at 8124 Fraser Avenue every Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 4pm, and at the Athabasca Farmers Market, Riverfront, 50th Avenue and 48 Street.
Fort McMurray Métis Trading Post was founded by Lisa Bourque, a proud Métis person with deep ancestral ties to Lac La Biche, Alberta, and peeyasis band.
Throughout her life, Lisa experienced challenges with addiction, some of which she attributes to the misunderstanding and lack of pride in her personal identity. Growing up, Lisa had very little connection with her culture and often felt she didn’t fit in amongst her peers. Today, over 20-years into her journey through recovery, Lisa credits her now deep understanding of personal identity and past with guiding her towards the ‘red road’, which she proudly walks everyday, celebrating her Indigenous heritage.
Lisa’s Cree name is ahaisew Iskwew or Crow Women. To be a Crow Women represents her drive and motivation to create change and to make things happen. Honouring the Beaver Lake Trading Post, and the peeyasis band, a place with which she has deep ancestral ties, Lisa opened the Fort McMurray Métis Trading Post to share Indigenous history and culture with the community. Lisa offers traditional teachings and ceremonies, sharing her passion for traditional plant medicines, such as sage and sweetgrass, with all who are open to growth and learning.
When Lisa undertook opening the Trading Post, she did so with a larger mission than simply starting a business. Lisa was on a mission to support artisans of all walks in life. She believes that having an open-door policy is part of meaningful truth and reconciliation in Canada. Lisa believes that we are one human race, and all deserve to be treated so.
Lisa is a proud member of her community, regularly volunteering her time working with students at local schools, and sharing her love with her two daughters.