Verna Demontigny - Member

Verna Demontigny is a proud Métis knowledge keeper, fluent Michif speaker, and enthusiastic advocate for preserving her language and culture. She was born and raised in the traditional Métis community of Fouillard’s Corner (Li Kwayn in Michif), near Binscarth, Manitoba. Verna’s family history is rooted in Ste. Madeleine, a Métis community near the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border that was displaced during government evictions in the 1930s.

Now a Brandon resident, Verna is a mother of five children and grandmother to ten grandchildren. She strives to preserve Michif for future generations, having taught the language in the Brandon School Division, and continuing to collaborate with linguists and share her knowledge as a visiting elder at Assiniboine Community College. She loves sharing her culture and language with anyone willing to learn, so Métis traditions and history continue to thrive.