Batoche not what it was: Needs overhaul

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Sakatchewan's Back To Batoche celebrations have come and gone 28 times and appear destined for a major overhaul. If not, according to some, the festivity is "doomed to die."

A faint 3,000 if not fewer people turned up to the July 23-26 event at this tiny historic community where Riel and Dumont stood their final ground against overwhelming odds in 1885 when the Canadian government sent thousands of militia west to put the Metis down.

"It's sure not what it used to be," moans Cliff Coulter who attended the function in it's heyday when nearly 15,000 came.

The event has not picked up for the last several years, which has a number of people worried.

Rose Boyer, who has missed very few of the Batoche days, continues to maintain that the festivity has to get into the hands of the people and out of the political circles.

Boyer and a few friends also circulated a petition to ban beer gardens in the future on the basis that it is not a good example for the children attending, nor for the Metis lands which she and so many others claim are "sacred."

Author Maria Campbell concurs and has strongly protested the presence of liquor in the past.

One man watched the front gate as car after car turned around and left Batoche before even getting through because a fee of 10 dollars per head was being charged.

Wil Campbell believes the fee discourages people from attending. "Many of them come from large families and can't afford that much," he said.

Joe Fiddler thinks similarly and believes there should be no fee at all, that people come there for a good time and to honor the fallen Metis freedom fighters. If they charge at all, he says, "it should just be a couple dollars or five for a car."

Another fee structure that people complain about is the amount for entering events. Many think it is too high when one must pay anywhere from $10 to $20 to enter any one event.

Outside of the misgivings about Batoche, those in attendance did enjoy the celebration, especially the cultural component - things like the jigging, square dancing, fiddling, talent contest and so on.

Of particular interest to many was The Trial of Louis Riel, a live play by a theatrical group that involved about three dozen performers from Medicine Hat. The hour-long production, once concluded, received a long and resounding applause from a packed big top.

A return of the Metis Voyageur "strong man" competitions was very favorably received and a good raft of people proved that, indeed, they are "tough Metis."

The axe throw was won by Russel McKay, cream can carry went to Donald Sutherland, sling shot to Manitoba's Lt. Gov. Yvon Dumont, the 200 pound flour packing race to David Chartrand who went 100 yards in 24.43 seconds, and the 500 pound flour packing to Donavan Sayers who traveled 349.9 feet or 116.6 yards. The record to date is 139 yards by Dumont.

Bannock baking was won by Marlene Laliberte, Gloria Sinclair and May Henderson.

In horseshoes, it was Ralph Arcand, Charles Racette and Bernie Amyotte.

Senior fiddle champ was Carolyn Von Grad, intermediate went to Don L'Hirondelle and Calvin McCallum, and the novice to Christopher Mazur, 7.

The Edmonton Cultural Square Dance Club took the square dancing while Loretta King, Angeline St. Germaine and Flo McKay won the talent contest.

In senior jigging, Joey Gladue and Brent Potskin took the men's while Tammy Donald and Joy Aubichon won the women's. Savanah Fulton and Stephanie Lafond won the junior girl's and Raymond Gladue won the boy's. A special prize also went to Paul Caplette, 75.

The ball tournament which had the most prize money at stake went to Mayfair Sports from Sask. and the Pine House Mighty Metis who ran second.