Louis Riel Day pitched as federal holiday

A Brandon city councillor made a pitch Monday for Ottawa to recognize Louis Riel Day as a federal holiday.

Coun. Chris Desjarlais floated the idea during his address at the Keystone Centre, as more than 350 people packed the MNP Hall to honour Manitoba’s founder, listening to folk music, eating bannock and with many wearing bright red sashes.

“I think that in the spirit of reconciliation, I feel compelled to suggest to our federal government to recognize this day nationally as Louis Riel Day,” Desjarlais (Ward 2) said in his address.

“If there is anyone who is a bridge between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people — if there’s anybody who showed us what reconciliation could be — it was Louis Riel.”

Currently, Louis Riel Day is a provincial holiday in Manitoba, so federal workers do not get the day off.

Desjarlais said he thinks Riel would be proud of the celebrations of Métis culture that took place across Manitoba on Monday, recognizing long-standing connections and what the Métis leader stood for.

After his speech, Desjarlais said while he’s not completely sure what a federal holiday on Louis Riel Day would look like, it could replace an existing holiday or other provinces could have their own name for the day.

Currently, the third Monday in February is Family Day in five provinces. As well, Prince Edward Island has Islander Day and Nova Scotia celebrates Heritage Day.

“If the province is already giving you that day off, then the federal government should then recognize that,” Desjarlais said.

“We have a lot of federal government employees who are in the province and so they’re not able to take the time to celebrate and remember the life of Louis Riel and progress of the Métis nation.”

Manitoba Métis Federation Minister Will Goodon said he agrees with Desjarlais.

“That would be a pretty good sign of reconciliation if there was some recognition from the feds,” Goodon, MMF housing minister and representative for the southwest region, said in an interview.

“We should all be together to not only celebrate and honour Riel and an amazing culture, but just be together.”

Goodon, after attending events in Brandon and Minnedosa, also dropped the ceremonial faceoff at the Wheat Kings game later in the afternoon as part of the day’s celebrations. Players wore themed jerseys with Métis beading as a colour pattern and a picture of Louis Riel on their shoulders.

“Fifty, 60, 70 years ago there was shame of being Métis, and today, we can wear Louis Riel’s face on our T-shirts, we can wear our sashes proudly, the infinity flag is flying at city hall and Brandon University and other places, and I think it says that we’ve come a long way,” he said, adding there’s a long way to go still.

Brandon East MLA Glen Simard said the NDP government demonstrated its commitment to Riel as a founder of the province and the role he played in creating Manitoba.

He said the province would “welcome any move from the federal government” to make Louis Riel Day a federal holiday.

Riel was born in St. Boniface in 1844. At 25, the Métis leader formed a militia in response to the federal government’s plan to proclaim its sovereignty over the Hudson’s Bay Company’s land.

During the Red River Resistance from 1869 to 1870, Riel became head of Manitoba’s first government. He helped draft and pass a bill of rights and 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.

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

In late 2023, newly elected NDP Premier Wab Kinew and the legislature passed the Louis Riel Act, recognizing the Métis leader as Manitoba’s honorary first premier.

Monday’s annual celebration featured dancers, live folk music, kids activities and free food for the community.

Ruth Paul, who attended the event with her husband, said the bison chili being served tasted good, though it was a little too hot and spicy.

Paul, who is Métis, said it’s important for her to come to the celebration because her people have been beaten, stepped on and couldn’t use their language.

“Many things have happened to our people and I believe we need everybody and our young people need to learn our culture. They need to learn from the elders on what to do,” she said.

Christina Kytwayhat, who joined her grandchildren at a table for the event, said it’s important for her to come to the celebration because one of her grandchildren is Métis.

“He doesn’t know the Métis culture, so I just wanted to experience it and (see) what Métis culture is,” Kytwayhat said.

She said while she had never been to a Métis celebration before, the event was fun and not what she expected.

“They have things for the kids to do, and I’m excited to check out all the furs after I’m done my meal — and the chili is amazing, the food is good,” she said.

» alambert@brandonsun.com