UCalgary hosts Louis Riel exhibit, MMF expresses interest in loaning collection

The University of Calgary’s Nickle Galleries is currently hosting The Devotion: Louis Riel Writes Home exhibit, which says includes never-before-seen writings by the Métis leader. The exhibit consists of two notebooks and 37 letters sent to and from close family members, several of which were written during Riel’s exile from Manitoba. “Those are sort of the lost years of Louis Riel,” said UCalgary Rare Books and Special Collections librarian Annie Murray. The collection has been digitized for broader access and when the in-person exhibition ends, reports that the collection could be shared more broadly. Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) minister Anita Campbell stated that they would like to build a relationship with the university and work out a loan of the collection for display at the Métis National Heritage Centre, which will open in 2026.