Our Genealogy Research Centre

Access to information about ancestry and family trees is extremely important to the Métis, and we strive to provide such information to those who are interested.

We provide resources, both at our Provincial Office and online, to support this requirement.

Our Genealogy Research Centre is open on Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please call ahead to plan your visit: 780-455-2200 or 1-800-252-7553.

Resources

Our Genealogy Research Centre holds an extensive collection of resources available to assist Métis individuals in completing their family trees. These resources include:

  • Provincial Vital Statistic Records, which cover births, baptisms, marriages, and deaths in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Northwest Territories, North Dakota, and Montana.
  • Oblate records extracted from provincial archives including:
    • Batoche 1880-1909
    • Batoche 1881-1959
    • Lac La Biche 1853-1908
    • Red River Colony 1820-1851
  • A large cemetery collection, which includes North Dakota
  • Manitoba marriage records, 11 volumes, 1825-1983
  • Western Land Grants/Métis Scrip Books
  • Hudson Bay records
  • Numerous donated books
  • Access to ancestry.com
  • Historic family photographs. The GRC recently received a donation of historical pictures from the Riel family. The pictures depict Louis Riel’s youngest brother, Alexander, alongside his wife.

Library

Our library of information and materials covers all aspects of Métis history and culture, and is always growing! Recent acquisitions include historical records from Pembina 1841-1880 and Saskatchewan from the Salt Lake City Family History Library.

  • Community books
  • Cultural reference books
  • Métis family photographs
  • Collection of military service records
    • 1,200 attestation papers of WWI Métis soldiers
    • Service papers for WWII and other military missions
  • Journals, letters, and biographies
  • Métis artifacts museum
  • Newspaper and periodical extracts

This information would not be readily available to the Métis without the help of those who have donated to the GRC over the past five years. We thank all of our generous donors!

For a printable version of our GRC brochure, please click here.