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On Nov. 9, 1885, Metis leader Louis Riel sat down and wrote a letter to James Johnson, editor of the Ottawa Daily Citizen. In the letter, Riel thanked Johnson for the support he had provided to Riel in the pages of his paper, where he called for leniency.
"These men are to be pitied," Johnson had written in the Citizen. "We believe the country at large would approve of their being pardoned."
Seven days after he wrote to Johnson to thank him, Riel was hanged for treason.
That letter to the editor, written by Riel all those years ago, was kept by Johnson, and handed down within his family. Now, for the first time ever, that letter will be put on public display.
The letter, along with a number of other documents from Riel's life and times gathered from the collections of the National Archives, the National Library and the Saskatchewan Archives, will be on display at the Saskatchewan Archives in Regina from June 23 to July 11. The exhibit, Louis David Riel: A Letter to the Editor, November 9, 1885, will have it's official unveiling on June 20, to coincide with National Aboriginal Day celebrations the following day.
The exhibit is being coordinated by CanWest Global Communications Corp., which owns the Ottawa Citizen, as well as by the National Archives of Canada and National Library of Canada, and the Saskatchewan Archives Board.
The Saskatchewan Archives are located at 3303 Hillsdale Street in Regina. The exhibit will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For more information about the exhibit, call Chris Gebhard at 787-3381.
SIFC to celebrate opening on National Aboriginal Day
National Aboriginal Day has always been a time of celebration at the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (SIFC). But this year, the school will have even more of a reason to celebrate, as they officially open their new Regina campus on June 21.
The official celebrations will begin with a pipe ceremony scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. At 9:45 a.m., a grand march will take place, with Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex and Lt.-Gov. Lynda Haverstock joining chiefs, veterans and alumni entering the grounds of the new campus.
The official ceremonies will feature a drum group singing the traditional flag song, made in honour of the Queen, followed by a victory song.
The signage for the new campus will also be unveiled, officially announcing the school's name change to First Nations University of Canada.
While the official opening ceremonies will fill the morning's schedule, the celebrations will continue through the afternoon and into the next day, as the school hosts its 25th annual competition powwow.
The powwow is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. with a grand entry. Other grand entries are scheduled for 7 p.m. that day, and at noon and 7 p.m. on June 22.
Registration for all singers and dancers will begin at 1 p.m. on June 21, and at 10 a.m. on June 22.
This year's powwow will feature competition in four different age categories-junior (11 years and under), teen (17 years and under), adult (54 years and under) and 55 years and older. A fifth category-tiny tots, for dancers 5 years and under-will also be included, although there will be no contest in the category.
A singing contest will also be part of the festivities.
No admission will be charged to come out and enjoy the powwow, and everyone is welcome to attend.
For more information about the powwow, call the SIFC at 546-8400, or e-mail your questions to info@sifc.edu.
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