Louis Riel Day subdued this year

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This article was published 13/02/2021 (2046 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Monday’s Louis Riel Day will be a low-key affair in the province this year.

This day typically sees the Métis communities all over the province planning a range of events and inviting friends and neighbours to join in celebrating their culture.

“Because of COVID-19 it’s a very different day than we would normally have planned. COVID is a thief that robs us all of chances to get together and be with our families and communities,” Manitoba Metis Federation President David Chartrand told The Brandon Sun by email.

That sentiment is echoed by Leah LaPlante, vice-president of the Southwest Region for the federation, as well as its minister of natural resources and citizenship.

Virtual happenings are not the same as gatherings, and after almost a year of pandemic distancing, it’s getting harder and harder to get into the spirit.

“We had a caucus meeting yesterday and today and one of the statements I made when I was doing my regional report is the reason that there’s not much happening is it’s been a long time that everybody has been in their own little space,” she said.

Essentially, it’s COVID-19 fatigue. And like many others, gathering, for the Métis, is an everyday fact of life. For LaPlante, who has connections across the region and beyond, the absence of physical proximity is especially felt.

‘It’s long, difficult, and I feel almost lonely for the people who have been such a daily, weekly, monthly part of my life for 23 years. It’s bad enough to be missing family but, after that many years, you sort of feel everybody that is part of your world is family,” she said.

She imagines it’s the same for everyone, now, though in different settings. And Chartrand noted the same.

“The principle of this holiday resonates with the culture of the Métis, just as it does with many other cultures that share our province,” said Chartrand.

“Family and community are essential to us all. Monday, we take a moment to cherish our unity and camaraderie as we share in the importance of family, province and country.”

As for the historical importance of this official holiday, Chartrand said that while Louis Riel’s history and legacy are better understood now than in the past, there is still work to be done.

“While he is acknowledged as the founder of Manitoba, Louis Riel is still not officially recognized as the first premier of Manitoba,” said Chartrand.

Meanwhile the crew at Manitoba 150 — who had to defer planned celebrations of the province’s entry into confederation last year — released a statement this past week acknowledging Louis Riel Day.

“As Manitoba reflects on 150 years as a province and looks forward to a new year, it is an opportunity to come together in spirit, to share stories, and to build even stronger connections to each other and the land. Our anniversary continues to inspire us to explore our past and leave legacies for the future,” they stated.

“As we approach Louis Riel Day, it’s a reminder of all the things that make Manitoba great, including being the only province to join Canada under Indigenous leadership.”

On that note, Le Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum (MSBM) is offering free admission to individuals and families throughout 2021, starting Tuesday, February 16.

Along with virtual programming the Manitoba Metis Federation has lined up, the museum has plans for a virtual celebration of Louis Riel Day on February 15.

The museum is home to the world’s largest collection of Louis Riel artifacts and is located inside Winnipeg’s oldest building — the largest oak log structure in North America, according to the news release.

“Celebrate means so much more than simple revelry. It is an expression of amazement, wonder, and appreciation. Manitoba 150 encourages Manitobans to be proud of who we are, to stand in awe of our province’s beauty, to appreciate the culture that surrounds us, and to respect our past and how it has created this unique experience of being Manitoban,” stated Monique LaCoste and Stuart Murray, co-chairs of Manitoba 150.

» mletourneau@brandonsun.com

» Michele LeTourneau covers Indigenous matters for The Brandon Sun under the Local Journalism Initiative, a federally funded program that supports the creation of original civic journalism.