BATOCHE – The Back to Batoche Festival will kick off on July 18.
Métis Nation–Saskatchewan’s moment to dance, sing, and celebrate Métis culture, language, and tradition. It’s Back to Batoche Days and it will be world’s largest outdoor Indigenous celebration. Back to Batoche Days becomes the third largest city in Saskatchewan from Thursday, July 18 to Sunday, July 21.
The four-day festival celebrates their rich heritage, identity, language, and values, a tradition dating back to its inception in 1970.
MN-S said, “It has been a very progressive time for the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan government with Kischi Maashinaayikun Ooshi Michif - the Sacred Document from the Michif and what better place to share with others than on the spiritual grounds of Batoche – where Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont stood against the odds in defence of Métis rights and gave their lives for the cause.”
For over 50 years, the four-day event has been an important opportunity to share Métis culture, build relationships, honour Métis veterans, and connect to the land where the Métis fought in the 1885 Northwest Resistance. Back to Batoche Days saw 40,000 people come together and the festival continues to grow each year.
This annual celebration, held on the national historic site of “The Battle of Batoche,” represents a movement toward reconciliation as approximately 10,000 people, Métis and non-Métis gather, over the course of the festival, to share in the celebration of our history, culture and language.
Back to Batoche provides the opportunity to preserve and promote Métis culture through storytelling, fiddling, jigging, square dancing, traditional food, music, Métis artists, traditional land use teachings, voyageur games, chuck wagon racing, sports, contemporary games, and Indigenous language.
Back to Batoche will have two kitchens and several food trucks to choose from, two stages and four days of live entertainment, including music/bands, dancers and artisans.
There will be a family dance at the second stage on Friday evening from 7 pm to 11 pm, which includes a jigging lesson. Saturday July 20 will have a movie night starting at 7 pm with two movies shown on the field behind the big top
The Sunday processional is an important tradition at Batoche, with Métis veterans leading the way to the cemetery where attendees take time to reflect on the resilience of our Métis ancestors.
The event will have a free shuttle service from Prince Albert at the Â鶹´«Ã½AV Hill Mall parking lot by Smitty's Restaurant and in Saskatoon at the Lawson Heights mall, Warman Road access behind Safeway. For the schedule of pick up and drop off times, click
A note that was posted on the Back to Batoche website was to be aware of highway construction. Construction crews are currently working to Highway 312 leading to the Back to Batoche Days festival grounds turnoff. Expect delays up to 30 minutes and to avoid the lineups, we the Back to Batoche days website recommends travelling Highway #41 from Saskatoon to Wakaw and down #312 to access the entry road.If you’re coming from Prince Albert, you can travel through Duck Lake and take the St. Laurent Ferry or come through St Louis.
For a complete schedule of events and times click
It will also have their usual slate of activities including: voyager games, family dance, youth activities / Lii Jiggers’ Village, rodeo (chuckwagon and chariot races), traditional teachings/storytelling, slo-pitch, volleyball, and horseshoe tournaments, Elders’ lodge and the Wandering Métis.
