User:Dom Bahr/Lorraine Freeman

Lorraine Freeman (January 2, 1954 - December 2, 2005) is of Métis indigenous descent and is best known for her efforts in keeping Métis culture alive. She was a founding member, president, and executive director of the Métis Resource Center in Winnipeg, Canada where she published many significant cultural works. Freeman's work included publishing cultural works, providing Michif language lessons, and creating educational materials to raise awareness about Métis culture. Her collection of important documents and artifacts has played a crucial role in preserving Métis culture.

Early life
Freeman was born to a large Métis family on January 2, 1954 in Manitoba, Canada to the parents of Delmar Kenneth McTavish and Rita Marie Larose. As a child of Métis descent, which is a group of indigenous people whose historical homelands include Canada's three Prairie Provinces as well as parts of the United States, Ontario, and British Columbia, Lorraine was raised with a strong appreciation for her cultural traditions and values. These primary Métis core values include those of strength, courage, honestly, respect, and patience while maintaining a strong connection and reverence with the creator and the planet.

Personal life
Lorraine Freeman was married to E. Keith Freeman. She had three children; Jennifer Lynn, Jacqueline Marie, and Keith Tyler. Lorraine battled cancer, passing away on December 2, 2005, in Winnipeg, Canada.

Career
In 1993 Freeman worked on the Oral History Project of the Metis Women of Manitoba Inc. alongside Doreen Breland-Fine, her co-chair on the Cultural Heritage Committee of the MWM. This project consisted of interviews exploring Metis identity and national symbols. Two years later, in 1995, Freeman became a founding member of the Métis Resource Center in Winnipeg, an institution working to conserve Metis culture. Freeman served as president of the organization and then served as executive director until she resigned due to poor health. During her time at the MCR, Freeman started the MRC newsletter Buffalo Tales and Trails and contributing to several significant cultural works including publishing La Lawng: Michif Peekishkwewin: The Canadian Michif Language Dictionary by Norman Fleury in 2000, producing the video The Dances of the Metis: Li dawns di Michifin in 2001, and publishing Michif Conversational Lessons for Beginners by Rita Flamand in 2002.

Cultural impact
As both President and director of the Métis Resource Center, Freeman was passionate about keeping Métis culture alive. For example, Freeman played a prominent role in educating school children in Manitoba, Canada by giving presentations about Metis culture. Freeman spearheaded an education project providing Michif language lessons (with audio). This is the language the Métis people speak. In addition, the MRC has created a brochure Sur le Sentier des Métis that provides directions to 20 essential Metis sites in Canada. It is estimated that over her stint working at the Métis Resource Center, Freeman has spoke to hundreds of thousands of people.

A large part of Freeman's information base comes directly from the source in Métis elders Audreen Hourie and Jeanette Swain Goertzen. Freeman has managed to amass a collection of important documents and artifacts about Métis culture. Her collection has been used by various Métis researchers and has played a role in preserving Métis culture overall.