Manitoba Métis Federation celebrates the reopening of Portage and Main
Posted July 2, 2025 4:18 pm.
Last Updated July 2, 2025 7:29 pm.
Portage and Main has reopened to foot traffic for the first time in decades. Days later, the Manitoba Métis Federation is putting their own stamp on downtown Winnipeg, celebrating their ongoing efforts to bring new energy to the heart of the city.
As part of the celebration, a guided tour at the intersection showcased the rich history of the Red River Métis in the area, from past to present. The Manitoba Métis Federation owns approximately 600,000 square feet of downtown assets and employs over 600 people in the area.
President David Chartrand emphasized the significance of this presence.
“There was a vision then and that has been explored and used to its full extent; now there’s a new vision to opening Portage and Main to what it could be,” said Chartrand.
While Portage and Main may be iconic, so too is the former Bank of Montreal building, now home of the Red River Métis Heritage Centre, as just inside the doors is where MMF announced a historic acquisition.
The announcement saw the transfer of stewardship of a significant cultural collection: the “Our Grandmothers” Collection, which will serve as a foundational element of the Red River Métis National Heritage Centre.
“Some of the works date back as far as 1830 and include everything from horse blankets, wall pockets, and fire bags,” said Anita Campbell, Minister of Finance & Human Resources for the MMF.
The collection is a curated body of 142 items assembled over two decades by acclaimed author, professor, and Red River Métis artisan Gregory Scofield, who began this work to honour the voices, artistry, and resilience of Red River Métis grandmothers through generations, and will be part of a collection of other significant Métis artifacts.
“It means they’re not being used as props for TV shows or movies, not being misidentified, and it means they are no longer invisible, it means they are no longer forgotten,” said Scofield.
The Heritage Centre is set to open in early 2027.
