Norman E. Fleury

Norman E. Fleury is married and lives with his wife, Ruth Anne Fleury, a teacher, and their children, daughter Chantelle Fleury, a graduate of Virden Collegiate and son Marc Fleury who still attends Virden Collegiate. Norman Fleury was born and raised in a predominately Métis (Michif) French community (St. Lazare, MB) which had been settled and opened as a mission by his great-grandfather and Rev. Father Decorby. Norman was born and raised on a small-scale family farm which resulted in is love and passion for land, cattle, and horses. He now farms near Woodnorth in southwestern MB. Norman received his education in St. Lazare, MB, Brandon University, and Oo-za-we-kwun Centre, where he then worked as a Life Skills Instructor, teacher, counselor, and in public relations.

Norman has held positions with groups, organizations, and educational institutions because of his Métis (Michif) heritage and knowledge of his Michif language and culture. He has learned about many First Nations cultures and languages, and was adopted by two Dakota Elders; one as a son, the other as a brother.

Norman has served in many positions since joining the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) at its inception in 1967. Norman was involved in opening Métis locals and then holding elected positions as MMF Chairman in Manitoba communities. He also served as a provincial Board of Director representing the MMF South West region. Norman presently is the National Elder of the Métis National Council, a Provincial M.M.F. Elder, and also is part of the Elders organization with the South West Region.

Norman served as the Chair of the National Michif working group with the Métis National Council.

Norman was the Director of the Michif Language Project for the MMF from 1998 to 2008 and during this time produced the first-ever Canadian Michif Language Dictionary in Canada.

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Norman is an author of many books and Michif dictionaries and literature. Norman recently finished putting a five-thousand-plus word Michif dictionary together, including five hundred phrases in Michif.

Norman has worked with and continues to work with well known Métis Education and publication Institutions such as Gabriel Dumont Institute in Saskatoon, SK, and the Louis Riel Institute with the MMF in Winnipeg, MB. Norman’s work and publications can be found at the GDI website and LRI MMF.

Norman is, and has been, a Métis elder with Brandon University since the inception of the Elders’ Program. During the 2013-14 term he taught Michif and Saulteaux (Ojibway) languages at Brandon University. In fact Norman completed a full circle at Brandon University, from beginning as a student with the Impacte Education Program, to working in Administration in charge of student affairs and community liaison with BUNTEP, to working as an Elder, and now teaching Michif and Saulteaux. The circle was completed with him teaching his daughter, Chantelle, in the first ever University Michif course.

Norman also teaches Michif with the MMF Southwest Region, and has taught in several Michif communities including Portage La Prairie, Brandon, Binscarth, Turtle Mountains and Boissevain, MB.

Norman Fleury has translated numerous items, including everything from children’s stories to government documents and surveys, into Michif. Norman has also translated archives in Batoche, SK for Parks Canada as well as Back to Batoche Métis celebrations in Michif.

Norman has held workshops, manned displays, and taught Michif at many Métis celebrations. Norman interviewed elders in various communities and video documentaries were produced about the Métis culture and way of life in the Métis communities that were highlighted.

Norman is also well known as the Elder at major meetings and celebrations where he conducts opening prayers in Michif which he has written and

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composed for all occasions. Most recently, at the invitation of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe, he presided at the opening of their new cultural centre in Great Falls, Montana on May 3, 2014.

Norman received the Diamond Jubilee Queen Elizabeth medal at the 30th Anniversary of the Métis National Council. 

He has been invited by the Métis Women’s Circle to participate in celebrations in Hamilton, ON where he taught traditional Métis culture to Ontario youth who were involved in conducting horse therapy as a means of learning how to improve their lives. Recently, Norman was part of a celebration with the Métis Women’s Circle in an evening of story-telling in Michif and English.

 In August, 2005 Heritage Canada invited Norman to travel to Expo to represent the Métis in Japan where the Department of Canadian Heritage hosted the International Symposium on the World’s Indigenous Languages at Aichi, Japan, with indigenous participants from around the world.

 Norman travelled to Europe in 2006 as Michif language expert with his daughter, Chantelle, and Métis university scholars where he conducted workshops and presentations in universities with Peter Bakker from Auroos, Denmark. Peter Bakker and Norman have worked closely together on the Michif language in recent years. Peter Bakker, one of the best linguists in the world, has completed his PhD on the Michif language. Norman and Peter Bakker were also featured on national radio in Canada on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s program “C’est La Vie” on June 9, 2000.

 

Norman Fleury has recently been invited to his birthplace community of St. Lazare, MB to educate the French Immersion School, Ecole Saint Lazare, with regard to Métis (Michif) culture and language. 

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Through the years Norman has been persistent in his efforts to showcase his Michif language, continually speaking his language whenever possible, and always promoting the pride of his Michif heritage and language. He has constantly practiced his language by phone calls to other Michif speakers. This has become harder as many have passed away or are separated by great distances.

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