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‘Year of the Métis’ celebrated at Batoche

Article Origin

Author

By Christine Fiddler Sage Staff Writer BATOCHE

Volume

14

Issue

11

Year

2010

The Batoche National Historical Site was bustling with activity on July 18, as hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the Northwest Resistance that happened exactly 125 years ago. 

“I can see that people really felt strongly about coming together in a peaceful environment,” said Métis Nation-Saskatchewan President Robert Doucette in an interview with Sage.

“Tragic things happened in 1885 and from all of that tragedy I think Batoche is now coming to symbolize a place of peace… where families can reconnect.”

The Northwest Resistance was fought by a group of Métis and First Nations warriors against members of the Northwest Mounted Police, which later led to the hanging of Métis leader Louis Riel and Aboriginal warriors involved in the battle. Many others escaped persecution by crossing the border to the states.

Those attending the commemoration sat on chairs and on the bare ground alongside a grassy hill to listen to a schedule of presentations in front of the historic gravesite. The inscription on a newly built gate on the gravesite was read out and for a full 30 minutes, names of fighters from all sides – Métis, First Nations and Northwest Mounted Police – were read out. As descendents briefly stood in remembrance of their ancestors, the sun suddenly peaked out from the cloudy sky overhead and shone a bright beam of light on all those gathered below. This ended with a symbolic group hug involving descendents from all sides.

Performances catered to the three cultures – fiddle players, a First Nations honor song, and a Royal Canadian Mounted Police member playing a bugle.

Andrea Menard delivered her song ‘Peace in the Valley’ as young marathoners sat in front of her in a row, recognized for their 90 kilometer run from Saskatoon to Batoche the day before. The 12 youth were led by marathon runner Shannon Louttit, who joined them in their quest as ‘New Messengers’ to honor the veterans.

MC’ing the afternoon event was Norman Fleury of Manitoba, who is a descendent of various fighters on the Métis side. He told Sage he heard a lot of stories from his grandparents and other relatives.

“They talk highly of Louis Riel and the resistance and what had taken place, what they heard. They could talk about all the stories among the Michif people, but …they still had a fear because there were people who had been persecuted,” he said.

“They always spoke about Louis Riel as a saint …about all the Métis who gave their lives for the cause because they were fighting for their rights, they were fighting for their families to save their homes. To save who they were as a nation,” Fleury added.

He said what he sees as a major struggle of Métis people today is getting the public to understand they are a distinct nation.

“We’ve been entrepreneurs and we’ve been part of the economy for many years and we helped build Canada,” he said. “We’re still trying to have that distinction to celebrate who we are and we’re on a journey of teaching those that never knew, that didn’t want to know.”

The commemoration was part of the ‘Back to Batoche Days’ from July 18-25 that had popular Métis musicians such as Michelle Wright, Donny Parenteau, John Arcand and Andrea Menard performing all week long. Other events included a rodeo, square dancing, a talent show, cultural activities and displays, and a tradeshow.
Organizer Claire Bélanger-Parker, said the busiest day was July 24, when somewhere between 15 to 20 thousand people came through the gates.

“The rodeo grounds were full, the field by the stage was full, the campsite, there were people everywhere,” said organizer Claire Bélanger-Parker.

There were so many activities going on that an attempt at breaking a Guinness World Record for ‘the most people playing spoons’ was swayed by being short 31 players.

“(People) were all sitting around the rodeo grounds with their spoons,” Bélanger-Parker said of the failed attempt. However, she added, organizers may be open to another attempt next year.

Things turned stressful when the sword belonging to Louis Riel was stolen from the BC pavilion where it was displayed.

“People in the BC pavilion were being interviewed by one of the media outlets … So they were distracted at that moment and someone walked in and took the sword and walked out,” Bélanger-Parker said. “They didn’t notice it until after the interview was over. They remembered seeing a young man and that’s how it all started.”

Organizers made an announcement and rumours were heard that someone on the rodeo grounds was seen with the sword. After 24 hours passed, a member of the One Arrow First Nation turned it in to the head of security, reporting that two children were playing with it on the grounds.

President Doucette took the sword to the main stage, which he wrapped in a Métis sash and presented to Métis Nation-British Columbia President Bruce Dumont.

“It’s part of a private collection that was lent to the BC team to bring and put on display at Batoche so it was a very emotional moment,” said Bélanger-Parker.

Despite the unfortunate theft of the sword, Bélanger-Parker said the success of this year was a team effort of the organizing committee, workers and volunteers.

“There’s some incredible volunteers who have worked tremendously all week long to make sure people were looked after. It really is a team effort, it’s not something that one person can do,” she added.

This year, the Province designated 2010 ‘Year of the Métis’ to acknowledge Métis history, celebrate Métis accomplishments, and commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Northwest Resistance.