Home and history is where the heart is

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The Red River West Rendezvous, to be held from July 5 to 8 at the Victoria Fish and Game Club, is a "modern day resurrection of the old Metis rendezvous in the 1860s," described organizer and co-founder Richard Larson.

The idea was conceived around a campfire one early morning five years ago, when a few good friends decided to put their heads together and start a cultural festival for Metis people. Now in its fourth year, the number of participants has grown exponentially.

"Last year we had 1,000 tipis," said Ed Shaw, who is on the board of directors. This year more than 4,000 people are expected to take part in the fair over the four-day period.

Everyone is invited to the event. Organizers say that although the self-funded fair is planned, administered and financed solely by the Metis, they are proud and thrilled to share their culture with all. "We encourage anyone to come and learn more about Metis people and where we're coming from," said Linda Dumont, the event's volunteer co-ordinator. Dumont will also co-ordinate activities in the kitchen, serving everything from hot dogs to bannock to buffalo stew, and making sure that no one leaves hungry.

Visitors to the rendezvous will walk away with much more than a full stomach. In addition to demonstrations of archery, tomahawk and knife throwing, black powder rifle shooting and displays of historic black powder guns will bring history lovers closer to understanding how the Metis lived more than a century ago.

"Last year some children got to shoot a black powder rifle," recalled Shaw. "When we asked them if they wanted to shoot it, their eyes went as big as saucers. Then they got to hear stories about how, at any given time in the 1800s, a Metis would be riding a horse alongside buffaloes and shooting them to raise their families. They'll always remember this hands-on history lesson," he added.

Another important aspect of life in the western frontier was producing metal objects, such as knives and axes. Organizers have tracked down two renowned blacksmiths who will demonstrate their skills at the rendezvous.

In Canada, Metis communities were identifiable as early as the 1600s. Many of them followed the fur trade to the Red River area in modern-day Manitoba and became well known as superior buffalo hunters. In the late 1860s, the Metis were forced to move further west, many settling in the Batoche area of Saskatchewan until Canadian authorities pushed them out of their communities to make room for European settlers.

Since all Red River Metis are related, genealogy has become an important part of the Metis search for their roots. Gail Morin, a renowned Red River Metis genealogist will be on site from Washington State to offer her expertise and help Metis participants map their family trees. All you need is the name of your grandparents, where they're from and you can go home with a complete list of your ancestors and distant relatives.

If that's not enough, a brand new 16-foot tipi will be raffled off during the fair. Proceeds will help cover the cost of the event so organizers can maintain the tradition of admission by donation and a minimal campground fee ($8.00 per night for tents and RVs). Arts and crafts venders will donate some work to be auctioned off in return for the right to display and sell their merchandise.

Although many a Metis rendezvous was a "bang-up party," as Larson jokingly puts it, no booze, drugs or politics are allowed at Red River West. Dog soldiers will be policing the ground for violators and those too attached to their soapboxes will be escorted to the edge of the grounds.

"The 'no drugs and alcohol' policy shows that we're really family-oriented," said Dumont, herself a mother of three. "So people won't think twice about bringing their families."

"Metis people take their own tribal politics very seriously," explained Larson. "So in protection of the other cultures who attend, we will not do Metis politics. The rendezvous will e on neutral grounds, so to speak."

The Victoria Fish and Game Club is located at 700 Holker Place, Malahat Drive, Highway 1. For more information call Bruce Dumont at (250) 923-5455, Ed Shaw at (250) 753-7471 or Richard Larson at (250) 537-5755. You can also e-mail them at metisdumont@telus.net or larson@saltspring.com.