Cultural Centre

Building Our Legacy

We can afford to build our McMurray Métis Cultural Centre!

The McMurray Métis Cultural Centre is no longer just a dream — it’s becoming reality. With over 40% of construction complete, the walls are rising, the foundations are strong, and our vision is taking shape.

Yes, we’ve faced challenges. Like many large projects across Canada, the rising cost of materials and post-pandemic inflation have slowed progress. Despite these pressures, our award-winning Cultural Centre can be strategically value-engineered to reduce costs while preserving the integrity of the original vision — a powerful expression of our Métis flag reclaiming the land of our ancestors. In this way, we can balance financial responsibility with cultural pride, ensuring that the Centre is built in a way that honours our people and safeguards our future.

Let’s be clear: this project is absolutely achievable — and within our reach.

Here’s why

McMurray Métis (MMM) proudly owns Infinity Métis Corp (IMC) — our Nation’s economic engine. IMC is a proven success story, generating tens of millions of dollars each year through strong partnerships with industry. Along with the substantial grants already secured, IMC’s ongoing revenues ensure we have the strength, stability, and capacity to complete our Cultural Centre — a place that will stand proudly for generations to come.

What was achieved

Our Identity in Concrete, Timber and Glass

The design took shape through Community Membership Consultations, Board approvals, and weekly working meetings, supported by regular updates to funders, community briefs, and detailed meeting minutes to ensure transparency every step of the way. This is not just a building — it is a bridge between past and future. The design of Our Cultural Centre is firmly rooted in Métis culture, traditions, and symbols. The infinity form, the use of natural materials, and the gathering spaces all speak to who we are as a Nation. Yet it also looks forward, offering state-of-the-art facilities, sustainable building practices, and vibrant spaces for community support, cultural revitalization and transmission. By combining cultural grounding with modern vision, we are creating a place where our youth can see themselves reflected with pride — a place that shows them our culture is not only alive, but thriving and leading into the future. In doing so, we strengthen the bond between generations and give our young people a reason to stay connected, to return home, and to carry the Métis story forward with pride.

Why We Must See It Through

Completing Our Legacy

The infinity-shaped design, visible from the sky, is a declaration that this is Métis territory. It is a landmark of belonging — a place for our children and grandchildren to know who they are and be proud of their culture.

Cultural Home for Generations

This Centre will house our history, art, teachings, and ceremonies. First and foremost, it will be a place to take care of our community — ensuring our members have access to the services, resources, and supports they need. It will also be where Elders pass knowledge to youth, where we gather as families, and where the world learns about the richness of our Métis culture. Beyond being a cultural landmark, it will serve as a true community hub and a safe place: a home where our people can come together with dignity and pride, knowing that their culture, identity, and future are protected and celebrated.

A Permanent Seat of Government

The Cultural Centre will also serve as the permanent home for McMurray Métis governance. No longer will our Nation’s leadership be scattered or renting temporary spaces. This building will provide a respected, central seat of government where members can come for services, meetings, and representation — a visible reminder that our Nation is strong, organized, and here to stay.

Economic Sustainability Through Rental Offices

Financial sustainability is built into the design. The Centre will house office spaces that generate rental income from valued partners, including Infinity Métis Corp., which already brings significant business activity to the region. These revenues will help cover operating costs for the Centre, reducing the financial burden on members and ensuring the facility thrives for decades to come.

Already Underway

With nearly half of the project already built, we are not starting from scratch. The vision is on the ground, and the finish line is in sight. Every dollar and every day invested so far has laid the foundation for success.

The Multi-Award-Winning McMurray Métis Cultural Centre is no longer just a dream — it is already becoming reality. With 40% of the construction complete, the walls are rising, the foundations are strong, and the vision is taking shape.

The Global Rise of Indigenous Tourism

Across the world, Indigenous tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors of cultural and sustainable travel. Visitors are seeking authentic experiences that connect them to place, people, and tradition. They want to learn from Indigenous communities, walk the land with local guides, hear the stories passed down for generations, and experience living cultures that cannot be found in a textbook.

The McMurray Métis Cultural Centre is perfectly positioned to be part of this global movement. It will:

Draw national and international visitors to Fort McMurray, eager to experience Métis culture, art, music, food, and history.
Create long-term economic opportunities for Métis people, from cultural programming to local business partnerships.
Place the Métis Nation on the world stage, showing how our people are leaders in reconciliation, cultural preservation, and sustainable development.
Support tourism growth in Alberta and Canada, contributing to a national strategy that recognizes Indigenous-led tourism as a key economic driver.

By finishing this project, we are not only investing in a building — we are investing in a global opportunity for our Nation and our community to thrive.

The Path Forward

The good news is that funding is available. With strong partnerships, revised budgets, and phased planning, the McMurray Métis Cultural Centre is financially viable. Our leadership will work tirelessly to secure and steward these resources responsibly.

We have already overcome the hardest part: the beginning. Now it is about completing what we have started.

Together, We Will Finish

This Centre is more than a building — it is the beating heart of our community’s future. It will be:

A permanent seat of government for McMurray Métis and Otipemisiwak Métis Government.
A cultural home where teachings and ceremonies flourish.
An economic engine, generating sustainable revenues through office rentals and Indigenous tourism.
A landmark of pride, telling the world: this is Métis territory.

The message is clear: we will finish this project. With your continued support — your voices, your participation, your pride — the McMurray Métis Cultural Centre will open its doors.

And when it does, we will all be able to say: