Metis Spring Festival off to good start first time around

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News flash! About 250 Metis revelers were spotted at Saskatoon's Ukrainian Hall on 20th Street on the Victoria Day long weekend, May 21 to 23.

Amid much foot stompin', hand clappin' and shouts of joy, the action proved highly entertaining and lively to the sounds of fiddles, guitars and vocalists who were all out to absolutely enjoy themselves and experience still more of their cultural heritage.

The ability to get out there to practice their culture and thrive on it has become a long-established component in the Metis community, one that people refuse to forget or permit to be relegated to the dustbins of history.

This is how the Metis Spring Festival came about. Sponsored by the Saskatoon Metis Cultural Society and the Cumfi Metis Local 165, board member Rose Boyer explained the idea came from the Metis Festival held annually in Prince Albert which draws about 1,500 people. And, while the event may not have been all that was hoped for, organizers were satisfied with the outcome. There were a few errors but, said Boyer, "we'll learn from our mistakes." She feels that, more important is the fact that the festival is an initiative that contributes to the retention and promotion of Metis culture.

Agreeing strongly with that notion is Roy Fosseneuve, better known as 'the judge.'

"This type of event brings Metis people together; it needs attention in urban centres," said Fosseneuve, who said he hopes the festival will "get bigger and better."

The event was kicked off with an opening prayer by Rose Boyer whose song, 'Louis Riel,' was sung by her son, Phil.

The Saturday and Sunday afternoons and evenings featured songs by Mel Vandale, Wendy Bissonette, Shari Sayers, Florence McKay, Jim Villeneuve, Allan Morin and others.

One individual in the audience, Luke Jeddry, said "Metis talent is probably the best there is." Jeddry should have a fair idea about that. After all, he's recorded 30 or so different Aboriginal artists on CDs and cassette tapes, people such as Kelly Atcheynum, Phil Boyer, Allan Morin and many others.

Jeddry's impression of the festival? "I can see this grow. Next year will involve people from all three western provinces," he stated.

There was some guest fiddling by Russel Boyer and square dancing and jigging by the local Michif Dancers, aged five to 12, as well as the Free Spirit dancers who put on a coordinated, high energy performance that got everyone's hands and feet going.

The cultural society president, Mel Vandale, informed Saskatchewan Sage there is a definite need for functions of this nature.

"In the days of the horse," he explained, "people would congregate and take out the violins and guitars, and whether picking berries or digging Seneca root . . . there was always fun to be had."

Vandale was critical of mainstream influences which have robbed a lot of Metis of learning and experiencing their own culture.

"While we still have people around that know about Metis culture, we have to teach it," he said.

Echoing his sentiments was one of the older community members, Ernest Aubichon.

"When we were younger, we did this all the time," he stated. "This festival is a good start; it's important and I enjoy it."

Aubichon wasn't the only person to enjoy it. Dozens of others did and some of those others were non-Metis. For example, two distant visitors were Ferris and Daisy Smith, First Nations members from Alberta's Siksika Reserve east of Calgary.

Although it was their first taste of Metis culture, they were quick to admit they "like it, enjoy it." As for returning to take it in again? "Yes, we would," they said.

The festival also proved an opportunity for other elements of the culture to be expressed. Raffles of Metis crafts, sales of Metis flags and so forth were conducted as was the explanation of culture and what's happening in and amongst Metis communities today. Much of this occurred during the discussions that went on between people in the crowd and a few who got up to express themselves ver the microphone.

A Saskatoon Aboriginal resource officer with the city police, Konota Crane, informed the audience that hers is "a position I want people to understand," that it helps bridge communications between police and the Metis community.

She acknowledge that her job is the result of the Metis in the city who pushed for it. She further expressed a real need for the urban Metis to concentrate their efforts on supporting the youth.

If nothing else, the Saskatoon Metis Cultural Society intends to continues its direction and promote Metis culture and heritage.

Even at the school level, said Mel Vandale, "our goal is to work along with schools on Metis culture." Why? Simply because "there's not enough" of it in the system.

In recognition of her work with the festival, Florence McKay was presented with a bouquet of roses. And a few Metis sashes were also presented to individuals that were recognized, including youth representatives Nicole Pilon and Jason McLeod.