Metis history celebrated at Back to Batoche

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Thirty-three years and going strong, this year's Back to Batoche Days, July 24-27, was again a success, giving Metis people from across North America a change to get together and celebrate a shared history and culture.

Batoche has been a well-known gathering place for generations and the annual Metis festival continues that tradition. Senator Nora Cummings, Metis Nation of Saskatchewan Senate chair, has only missed one year since the event began in 1970.

"Back to Batoche Days are very spiritual for me, and that's exciting," she said. "I meet new and old friends here, and I've watched our Batoche grow. Now we have a nice building for shows, and an Elder's building, and we're excited about that. We have to respect the Elders and make sure they are looked after. We feed approximately 3,000 Elders a day and it's all done by volunteers."

There is something for all ages at Batoche Days, with a rodeo, chuckwagon racing, ball and horseshoe tournaments, fiddling and old-time Metis dancing demonstrations, talent competitions, and the Metis voyageur games.

But there's something even better for many who visit Batoche. Jackie Maurice, who has been out to Back to Batoche for the past five years-about as long as she has known she is Metis-said "The best thing about coming back to Batoche, especially for someone like me, is the sense of belonging. I learn a little bit more about my Metis heritage and culture."

For Nelson Sanderson, organizer of the voyageur games, learning is the main reason for the games. "I'm trying to teach the youth that our people were the backbone, the mules, of the fur trade. They did this as a job but now they do it as pleasure."

Sanderson tells the story of one voyageur: "At that time the stronger the voyageur, the more money he made. The depots on the Grande Portage by Lake Superior were about half a mile apart, and this fellow carried 450 lb between depots.

"I like to present Metis history in a challenging but also in an educational way," he said. "These games are Metis history and we're bringing it back so we can revive some of our culture."

For many years, the voyageur games have included various events such as the 180 lb run for men and the 90 lb run for women, but this year a new event was added, the Metis strongest man competition, a timed medley of four contests.

Contestants start by carrying 450 lb of flour for 20 yards. Then they carry a 250 lb log the same distance. Then it's back again with two 125 lb cream cans, then a 320 lb rock for three yards.

The Back to Batoche festival is always well attended. "We have people from all over Canada and at least five different states," noted Helen Johnson, an organizing committee member. "And there are lots of family reunions during the celebrations."

One group that drove more than five hours from Manitoba to attend was the Duck Bay Metis Junior Square Dancers. The group of eight, aged 12 to 15, had a great time and performed very well at the competition. For them, the best thing about Batoche was the fun, the music, the talent, and the fiddlers.

For Cummings, the best thing about Batoche is family and youth. "I have 10 children, 25 grand and 14 great, so children are my priority," she said with a smile. "I see the young people here and it's a good feeling because I know now our culture will continue to grow and stay within us."

As the culture and traditions continue, so does Back to Batoche Days. "If the good Lord permits, we'll all be here next year," Cummings said, "and I'm inviting a whole lot more people out here. There's lots of room, and there's always room for more."