Developments made by the Métis community were shared at this year’s Louis Riel Day celebration in Toronto.
Several representatives from the Métis community were invited to the Louis Riel Day event to talk about their experiences, which began with the Métis flag raising ceremony at Toronto City Hall on Nov. 16, 2018.
Louis Riel Day marks the anniversary of the execution of Métis politician Louis Riel. He was a known advocate for Métis rights, and the day is meant to commemorate Riel’s life and celebrate Métis culture and history.
“Louis Riel is recognized as a political and spiritual leader of the Métis people, and an advocate for minority rights in Canada,” said Coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam at the flag ceremony. “Today, we honor the contributions of Riel and the Métis people to the development of Canada.”
Many developments have been made by the Métis community in the past few years alone, from signing a framework agreement to advance reconciliation with the federal government, to beginnings of negotiations for Métis self-government in Ontario.
These developments will hopefully aid in creating better communication between the government and the Métis people.
“There is still a lot of work to be done,” said Todd Ross, the chair of the Toronto-York Region Métis Council. “But we are seeing that our relationship with the city of Toronto is now moving forward.”
Margaret Froh, president of the Métis Nation of Ontario, credits much of the progress made in the community to the leadership initiatives taken by the Métis youth.
“Our youth are doing an amazing job at revitalizing and lighting a flame among all of our people in terms of re-engaging with our culture, understanding our history, and telling our stories,” said Froh.
Several of these youth were present at the ceremony, including Alicia Blore, a Métis youth representative and distant relative of Louis Riel Sr.
Blore often works with youth, giving cultural presentations and teaching them traditional art forms, such as beadwork and fingerweaving.
“We’re trying to get people to understand and appreciate our culture, and pass it onto younger generations,” said Blore.
In celebrating Louis Riel Day, Métis people hope to share the developments made in their community as well as their culture and history with the rest of the city.
“I encourage you to spend this weekend in your local Louis Riel events,” said Blore. “Spend that time with the people who keep that spirit alive through song, dance, storytelling, and I challenge you to keep that Métis spirit alive for generations to come.”
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