BATOCHE — The 50th Back to Batoche festival became extra special after 690 hectares of land was transferred to Métis Nation-Saskatchewan by the federal government with the historic signing happening Friday, the day of the anniversary celebration.
MN-S president Glen McCallum and Minister Dan Vandal led the historic signing of the document that hands over the land on the west side of the Batoche National Historic Site adjacent to the Â鶹´«Ã½AV Saskatchewan River.
Vandal, the Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, made the announcement at the tail end of the opening ceremony for the four-day festival, which culminates on Sunday with the honouring of those who died.
“This land was witness to the beauty of the Métis way of life as well as hardships and injustices faced by Métis people seeking to have a life and a place for themselves … This is something that is an important part of our mandate to advance reconciliation with Indigenous Nations, including the Métis Nation,” said Vandal.
The land is close to the hearts of the Métis people aside from its historical significance as it is the site of the Battle of Batoche, where North-West Rebellion forces led by Gabriel Dumont and Louis Riel made their last stand against the army of Gen. Frederick Middleton.
McCallum said the relationship the MN-S built with the federal government helped make the land transfer possible and commended the countless hours of conversations by everyone who worked behind the scenes.
“When we started five years ago, going into the first year of my term, we didn’t have anything. The Liberals came in and stepped up to the plate and started engaging with our [MN-S] government. Then we started the framework agreement and legislation. It’s been aggressive conversations around [this] land, and the [Federal] government has been accommodating and accommodating,” said McCallum.
“It comes naturally. If you look at Batoche, regarding what’s here and the history of the Riel resistance, it only stands to reason that we can start talking and that’s what happened. Everybody knew that accountability and transparency are very important to governments, and the same for me in our [MN-S] government.”
He added that they are now looking forward to further developing the area to help educate everyone, Métis and non-Métis people, on their cultures and traditions as well as the part they played in shaping Canada’s history.
“I would like to see a legislative building here. I’d like to see the old ferry, which used to be here, for cultural and educational purposes. There are so many things that we’d like to see here to promote our culture to other people. To be able to see what we can do, and what we have done and contributed to Canada for many years,” said McCallum.
Vandal said, being a Métis and a member of the Canadian government, he considers the land transfer an important and passionate moment for everyone but most significant for him since his ancestors fought in the Battle of Batoche and are buried in the nearby cemetery.
“I came from St. Boniface-Red River Métis and I grew up there but the struggle was the same. A lot of my ancestors were from St. Boniface, but they fought in Batoche. They were part of that historical resistance against the Canadian government,” said Vandal.
“Today, as a minister with the Canadian government, of course, our values have changed tremendously in 137 years. We now realize that there’s a great opportunity to make amends to move forward in partnership and this is reconciliation.
