Riel Day honours first premier’s legacy

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Métis music, dancing and the aroma of food filled the auditorium, canteen and kids’ zone at the Manitoba Métis Federation’s southwest region’s building in Brandon on Monday in celebration of Louis Riel Day.

This was the first time Tyler Lavallee and his six-year-old daughter Mikayla have been to the local event. He said he was surprised there was so much to see and do.

“It’s fun for the kids to get their faces painted. She’s had a smile on hers the whole time,” Lavallee said.

And as he held up a piece of bannock, he added, “We grabbed a bite to eat, and thought that would be it, but then the music started, so we decided to stay.”

Maryann Klyne, instructor of the Dauphin Friendship Centre Diversity Dancers, said she has been dancing since she was a “toddler at four years old” and loves teaching.

“Our dancers range from 10 to 14 years old, and they know tap, square dance and jig. So proud of them all. I’ve been teaching for 13 years, and this keeps them up with their culture and they love performing,” Klyne said as she lined up the dancers for their performance.

The first Louis Riel Day was observed in Manitoba in 2008, proclaimed by former NDP premier Gary Doer.

And last December, the first new bill that was passed under Manitoba’s newly elected NDP Premier Wab Kinew was Bill 2, the Louis Riel Act, recognizing the Métis leader as Manitoba’s first premier.

Louis Riel was born in St. Boniface in 1844. At the age of 25, 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 1969 to 1870, Riel became head of Manitoba’s first government. He helped draft and pass a bill of rights that negotiated the 1870 Manitoba Act and entry of the province into Confederation.

Riel took a leading part in the North-West Resistance, which lasted from 1884 to 1885. After the rebellion was suppressed by federal forces, Riel was imprisoned in Regina and charged with high treason. He was convicted and executed when he was 41 years old.

While Louis Riel Day celebrations carried on at the MMF bulding in Brandon, Kinew honoured Riel’s legacy in Winnipeg.

Riel’s portrait has been displayed in the Manitoba Legislative Building for many years, but a plaque designated Riel as president of the executive council.

As Kinew unveiled the portrait with the new plaque, he said the change reflected his status as Manitoba’s original premier.

“So, we know that Mr. Riel not only served that important role,” said Kinew during the live news conference from the legislature, “but also (the) rights that he articulated set forth the vision for our province of Manitoba — a vision of equality, a vision where people had the right to speak French and speak other minority languages, the recognized indigenous rights.

“And really at the end of the day, recognize the ability of all of us to live here together on these lands, and to make the most of our full potential.”

Alongside Kinew was David Chartrand, president of the National Government of the Red River Métis, who called it an historic and momentous day.

“We have been 153 years in waiting and advocating to correct this part of our history, and today we see the true title of Louis Riel further acknowledged. The stain on Canada remains for portraying him as traitor and a madman, instead of telling his true history as the first premier and the founder of Manitoba,” Chartrand said in a news release.

In a ceremony at Riel’s graveside in St. Boniface, Kinew and Chartrand placed a signed copy of the Louis Riel Act on his headstone and a moment of silence was observed. As well as bestowing Riel with the title of first premier, the legislation mandates school curriculums include education about Riel’s contributions to the province and Canada.

Education is key, said Leah LaPlante, vice president of the MMF southwest region based in the Wheat City. She said the premier’s recognition and overall celebrations of Louis Riel Day meant they’ve come a long way, but added there is still more teaching to do.

“We have to educate our young people so that they’re aware of their own history,” LaPlante said.

“And I know that because when I first started researching Louis Riel, and that was a long time ago, none of us in our home community really knew exactly what the story was, the importance of Louis Riel, and what he was trying to do.”

Before becoming Brandon East’s MLA, and minister of sport, culture and heritage, Glen Simard he was a teacher at École Harrison in Brandon.

Simard said the new plaque for Riel’s portrait — and the celebrations happening across the province — reframe how Métis are represented in Manitoba’s history, which is positive for the younger generation.

“And I think the more kids that get to hear that message, whether they’re Métis or Filipino, being proud of who you are and where you come from is something that everyone can see in Louis Riel’s vision for this province,” Simard said.

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