An opportunity to honour Manitoba’s founder
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Louis Riel Day is an occasion for western Manitobans to honour the province’s founder, says the Manitoba Métis Federation’s minister of housing.
“It gives us another opportunity to, you know, as the Red River Métis, celebrate our culture, to talk about who Riel was and why he stood up for the right thing, to protect the land,” said Will Goodon, who’s also the elected regional executive for the southwest region.
A variety of celebrations will be held across Westman for Louis Riel Day on Monday.
Prime Minister Mark Carney shakes hands with Manitoba Métis Federation Housing Minister Will Goodon during an event last November marking the 145th anniversary of Louis Riel’s execution at the St. Boniface Cathedral cemetery in Winnipeg. (Mike Sudoma/Winnipeg Free Press files)
The Grand Valley and Westman locals of the MMF Southwest Region Inc. are hosting an event in the MNP Hall at the Keystone Centre from noon until 4 p.m.
Kids activities will be available, including entertainment from the Dauphin Friendship Centre Diversity Square Dancers and music by Nitelife. Hotdogs, bison chili and bannock will be provided.
The Brandon Wheat Kings are also playing a game on Monday, starting at 2:30 p.m. For the second consecutive year, the southwest region has partnered with the hockey team to showcase Riel and the Métis culture. The players will wear a special jersey that will be auctioned off to raise money for Métis youth activities, Goodon said.
Elsewhere in Westman, Minnedosa is hosting an event on Monday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ukrainian Hall that will include games and refreshments, he said.
Louis Riel Day has been observed annually in Manitoba on the third Monday of February since 2008.
Riel was declared the province’s founder in 1992 and was officially recognized as the first leader of Manitoba in 2016.
The MMF continued to push for Riel to be granted the title of Manitoba’s first premier, which was bestowed by Premier Wab Kinew through the passing of Bill 2, the Louis Riel Act, in 2023.
“It says a lot, I think, about where our province and where our countries come from, thinking about … its relationship with, you know, Indigenous people, which obviously includes the Métis,” Goodon said.
Riel was born in St. Boniface in 1844. The Métis leader formed a militia in response to the Government of Canada’s plans to proclaim its sovereignty over Hudson’s Bay Company lands.
During the Red River Resistance from 1869 to 1870, Riel became head of Manitoba’s first government.
At the age of 25, he helped draft and pass a bill of rights that became the Manitoba Act in 1870 that entered the province into confederation.
Riel took a leading part in the North-West Resistance, which lasted from 1884 to 1885. After the rebellion was over, Riel was imprisoned in Regina and charged with high treason.
He was convicted and executed when he was 41 years old.
“He was one of those figures that stands out in history,” Goodon said.
Frances Chartrand, the vice-president of the Northwest Métis Council Inc., said Riel was historically seen as a traitor, but now more Canadians see him as a hero.
“I’m just so proud that everyone knows who the Red River Métis are and us going out to celebrate our culture and heritage is a big event for me. I want my children and my grandchildren to know where they come from and who they are,” Chartrand said.
She said the Northwest Métis Council Inc. is also hosting multiple events for Louis Riel Day in Roblin, Dauphin and Swan River on Monday.
The Dauphin event will be held at the Métis Community Centre from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and features a cribbage tournament by the Dauphin Amisk Métis Local, with entertainment provided by Desiree Orvis and Eldon Campbell.
There will be different stations for people to learn about the language and hunting practices, she said.
There will be a free hotdog lunch.
Roblin Métis Local and the Shell River Métis Association are hosting an event at the Roblin Community Centre from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event includes making bannock, jigging workshops, wagon rides, live music, face painting and an artisan showcase, Chartrand said.
The Swan River, Birch River and Minitonas locals are teaming up to celebrate Riel at the Elbert Chartrand Friendship Centre in Swan River.
The celebration runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features a cribbage tournament, cultural activities, nail driving, leg wrestling and arts and crafts, she said.
“We have the fiddle at all our events, and we have square dancing,” Chartrand said.
Stew, bannock, hotdogs and other refreshments will be provided.
» tadamski@brandonsun.com