Métis Week officially began in Lac La Biche on Tuesday, Nov. 12, with a flag raising ceremony at Portage College.
Officials from the college, representatives of Lac La Biche County and the Otipemisiwak Métis Government, along with members of the public gathered outside the Portage College Lac La Biche campus under bright sunny skies to raise the Métis flag.
The event kicked off Métis Week celebrations that were held across the Lakeland Region from Nov. 12-16. A second flag-raising ceremony took place at the Portage College St. Paul Campus on Wednesday, Nov. 13 while Kikino Métis Settlement and the Cold Lake Campus hosted stew and bannock lunches the next day. across the community, several events were planned for the special week, including displays, presentations and social gatherings.
The week’s activities wrapped up on Friday, Nov. 15 with another stew and bannock lunch at the Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement.
Through the week - celebration that is recognized across Canada - the Lac La Biche County Museum also created a series of displays to honor and recognize Meti heritage in the region. The displays will remain at the museum for several weeks, likely into the early new year.
Métis Week coincides with the recognition of Louis Riel Day, which takes place on Nov. 16. Riel, a Métis leader who also led the Red River Rebellion, was tried for treason and executed on Nov. 16, 1885, in Regina, Saskatchewan. His conviction and sentence has since been reversed by the Canadian government, and the former Métis leader continues to be a hero to the Métis people.
At the flag-raising ceremony, Lac La Biche area elder and knowledge-keeper James Cardinal recited a prayer in the Cree language as his granddaughter, Kezlee Shirt, assisted Otipemisiwak district representative Jason Ekeberg with raising the Metis flag.
Ekeberg said the flag-raising ceremony is significant because it recognizes and acknowledges the Métis people and culture.
“What it does it is recognizes Métis, and we just celebrate our heritage, and we bring it alive just to let everybody know that we’re here and we’re still existing to this day,” he told Lakeland This Week.
Cardinal explained that there are two Métis flags-the blue flag with an infinity symbol that was being hoisted for Tuesday’s ceremony, as well a red one which bears the same symbol. The blue flag represents peace and unity while the red flag represents blood that was shed in the past, he explained.
Métis Week, Cardinal continued, is important to celebrate at Portage College each year because the Lac La Biche area has one of the oldest Métis populations in the province.
For many years, Cardinal continued, the Métis were, as he puts it, the “forgotten people”, adding that they have come a long way from how they were originally looked at. Métis Week, he added is another way for Metis people to show who they are.
“We make this Métis Week to celebrate in who we are, and to put out there to let the people know that we’ve been around for a long time,” Cardinal said, adding that the week-long occasion also celebrates the successes made by Riel. “If it wasn’t for Louis Riel, we wouldn’t be standing here today.”
Jason Stedman, the Ward 4 councillor and current deputy mayor of Lac La Biche County, was amongst the group of representatives who attended the event.
When asked why hosting the flag-raising ceremony is important, Stedman said;
“It’s a diverse community we have…our Métis brothers and sisters are a very important and integral part of that,” he said. “Days that are precious to them are also precious to us, and should be celebrated as a community.”
In a statement released on Nov. 14, by Alberta’s Minister of Indigenous Relations Rick Wilson, Metis Week is described as a time to remember and pay homage to Riel.
“During this week, we honour the legacy of Louis Riel, a visionary leader whose relentless fight for justice and recognition laid the foundation for Métis self-determination and self-governance,” Wilson said. “Louis Riel's passion and conviction have left an indelible mark on our history, and his love for his people and his country helped build this nation. On November 16, we remember his ultimate sacrifice for the future of the Métis.”
As people celebrate Métis Week, Wilson continued, they take the opportunity to reflect on the rich history and invaluable contributions of the Métis people to the province and country. He added that the Metis have a deep connection to the land that predates in incorporation of both Alberta and Canada, and their vibrant culture continues to enrich provincial communities.
“Today, we celebrate the more than 127,000 Métis people who call Alberta home. Their contributions to our social, economic, and cultural fabric are immense, and we are proud to stand with them as partners in building a brighter future,” he said. “Together, we strive to ensure that Métis traditions continue to thrive, and that Métis people have every opportunity to enjoy all aspects of Alberta's prosperity.”