Métis veterans to be recognized with memorial in Batoche

The historic significance of Batoche makes it the ideal location for a memorial to generations of Métis soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice for Canada.

In July, a grant of up to $50,000 was presented to the Gabriel Dumont Institute toward establishing the monument that will honour all Métis who served in both world wars, the Korean War and the South African War.
“It is our duty to remember and honour the brave men and women who serve Canada so selflessly,” said Steven Blaney, minister of veterans affairs, in a news release. “Our veterans have fought for our freedom and these memorials are symbols of their accomplishments and sacrifices.”

The Batoche National Historic Site, 64 km southwest of Prince Albert, commemorates the village of Batoche, settled in about 1870 by Métis people who came from Manitoba. It was selected by Louis Riel as the headquarters of the “provisional government of Saskatchewan,” and later became the final battlefield in the Northwest Rebellion of 1885. That history is safeguarded today with the restoration of many original buildings and an annual Back to Batoche celebration that brings thousands of people to the area. The cemetery draws people of Métis heritage from across the country in search of their roots.

“The idea for the monument was born out of the 125th anniversary committee last year,” said Claire Bélanger-Parker, executive director of the Back to Batoche Festival. “We created a place called the Métis Veterans Memorial Gardens, planted 25 five-foot trees in a U-shape and in the centre we put a flower garden. That’s where the monument will go. Last year we had a lovely ceremony for the blessing of the garden and we had many veterans there.”

“The Métis Veterans Memorial Monument reflects the appreciation held by the community for our local heroes. Supporting the construction of new memorials is one way our government is taking the necessary steps to ensure the sacrifices of our Veterans will not be forgotten,” said Brad Trost, MP for Saskatoon-Humboldt, who attended the ceremony at the Back to Batoche festival this July.

Construction start date depends on the success of fundraising efforts, but the monument’s design has already been approved. “It’s a beautiful blue granite wall with drawings that are representative of our people, with a Red River cart and a Métis sash and also images that represent the veterans in the war,” said Bélanger-Parker.
“This granite wall will stand in the middle on a concrete base, and all around like a sundial will be panels where the names (of the 3,600 veterans) will be engraved.”

The projected cost of the monument is $300,000, “so we have a long way to go with fundraising,” said Bélanger-Parker.

Fundraising for the monument is being managed by the Gabriel Dumont Institute (of Native Studies and Applied Research), which is entrusted with the roll of promoting Métis culture through research and education.

“We are sitting at about $57,000 raised to date, including the $50,000 from Veterans Affairs and the rest from smaller fundraising efforts,” said Geordy McCaffrey, executive director of the institute. Proposals will be sent to private companies, representatives and veterans associations throughout the Métis Nation homeland and to the Métis National Council. Requests for support will also go out to other provincial ministries.

“It is exciting and worthwhile,” said McCaffrey. “The effort is large and it will require contributions from the kitchen table as well as the corporate boardroom.
Everybody’s going to have to roll up their sleeves and pitch in if they can.”

Although a National Aboriginal Veterans Monument was unveiled in Ottawa 10 years ago, Bélanger-Parker believes the Batoche site will be the first dedicated to those Métis veterans who answered the call to serve.

Photo caption: The site where the veterans’ memorial will be located was blessed during the Back to Batoche Days.

Photo: supplied