Margaret Quintal (September 19, 1947 - Present), of Conklin Métis Local 193, is a matriarch and an entrepreneur in her home community. She grew up on the banks of Christina River at Mile 199 in a loving family homestead. This was her family’s traditional territory – shared across eight generations - living peacefully in connection to the land.

Mrs. Quintal remembers the feeling of safety and togetherness of her upbringing. Picking berries, gardening vegetables, canning fish, drying moose meat, lighting oil lamps, taking train rides, fetching river water are some of the fond memories from this time.

Development soon changed much of the landscape of her family’s traditional lands and with it their survival. Mrs. Quintal adapted to the times, starting successful businesses with her husband, and did her best to support her community through the changes. Although she still has the family trapline, she still misses the traditional lifestyle. “A lot of people don’t know what it was like before,” says Mrs. Quintal, “we had a good life.”

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is celebrating the rich culture and history of Indigenous peoples of this region in recognition of National Indigenous History Month. Please join us throughout the month of June in honoring the original peoples whose stories have marked these lands for time immemorial.