Festival celebrates Metis culture, place in history

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In the early 1870s, Batoche was a new community, settled by Metis families who left the Red River settlement in Manitoba after federal government policies took away their lands and rights there.

By the mid-1880s, the same problems with government began for them again in their new home, with government surveyors sent into the area to open the land to European settlement.

After lengthy negotiations with the federal government showed no progress in improving the situation, Metis leader Louis Riel established a provisional government at Batoche, and the infamous Northwest Rebellion was begun.

In May 1885, the federal government sent troops into the area to bring the Metis resistance to an end, and Batoche became a battleground.

It is at Batoche where the Metis resistance began, and ended, that today's Metis people gather each summer to celebrate their culture.

The Back to Batoche festival will take place July 24 to 27, and will feature events and activities for all ages. Organizers of this year's event are expecting the festival to draw an even bigger crowd than last year, when the event attracted about 10,000 people over its three-and-a-half-day run.

This year's festival will feature jigging and fiddling competitions in men's, women's and junior (ages 5 to 12) categories, along with open square dancing competitions.

A talent competition is also a featured part of the festivities, with competitors aged six and up taking to the stage to perform.

Festival goers will get a chance to try their hand at traditional Metis skills, such as hatchet throwing and flour sack carrying, during the Voyageur games, and will demonstrate their culinary skills during a bannock-baking competition.

Cultural workshops and craft markets are also planned, along with a number of events designed to keep the younger participants entertained.

A co-ed slowpitch tournament, a horseshoe tournament and a tug-of-war are on the agenda for Back to Batoche 2003. Chariot racing, wagon racing and a rodeo will take place on the rodeo grounds.

The Batoche Musical, a staple of the annual festival, will be back again this year.

Back to Batoche takes place at the Batoche National Historic Site, located 88 km northeast of Saskatoon. For more information about Back to Batoche 2003, call (306) 343-8285.

For information about the Batoche National Historic Site itself, call the park at (306) 423-6227.