Photo: A peaceful protest at the entrance of the the Batoche Historic Site on July 18, 2025 / Randi LaRocque
By: Randi LaRocque
MBC Freelance Correspondent
First Nations University of Canada
As cars drove by the entrance to the Batoche National Historic Site on July 18th, 2025, for the opening ceremonies of Back to Batoche Days, a peaceful protest was happening outside the grounds to bring awareness to citizens’ concerns with the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN-S).
Organizers, SK Grassroots Zine, planned a peaceful protest for July 18th, allowing concerned citizens and allies a chance to express concerns about the MN-S.
SK Grassroots Zine posted on Facebook, saying, “This Friday, we’ll gather for a peaceful demonstration of unity and collective strength—at the very place where the Métis fought and died for political rights.”
This protest comes after the MN-S barred 2 duly re-elected leaders from the Provincial Metis Council, and they were locked out of the swearing-in ceremony just last month.
During the swearing-in ceremony, MN-S President Glen McCallum seems to reference the 2 barred leaders, saying, “Don’t get discouraged, isolate them. They don’t have your interest.”
As of July 16, 2025, the 2 leaders are promised a swearing-in ceremony.
Phyllis Vermette, a Métis Elder, was protesting for the grassroots and for the Métis.
“Right now we’re losing everything, really, so we have to fight for our rights.”
Alongside Vermette, about 70 Métis people and allies stood on the road across from the Back to Batoche grounds.
Those protesting held signs that said, “Voters are being silenced, our rights are being taken away,” “We elect you too, don’t ignore us,” and “Need forensic audit for the Métis Nation.”
Protestors are also calling for an Annual General Meeting. The last time MN-S hosted one was November 24, 2019, exactly 6 years ago. These meetings allowed the citizens to be heard by the Provincial Métis Council.
Shayna Arcand, a Métis protestor and youth, wants accountability from the MN-S about the barred leaders.
“We want justice. We want justice for the corruption that’s happening, we want this all to stop, and we want it to be fair,” says Arcand.
Alongside Arcand, Irene McGunigal, a protestor, stood by. She wants the MN-S to follow their own constitution and to allow those voted in to do their job.
“The voters were disrespected because she (Sherry McLennan) was not able to perform the duties we voted her to do. So, our democracy has been shattered, and it needs to be reinstated,” says McGunigal.
As the peaceful demonstration continued, MN-S President Glen McCallum made some comments about the demonstration taking place in his opening ceremony speech. During McCallum’s presentation the microphone he was using would not stay in its stand, so he said, “It doesn’t want to work with me, like the ones that are demonstrating out there. I guess some people don’t want to work with you and some microphones.”
Citizens raised concerns after witnessing the event that took place at the June swearing-in ceremony. The peaceful demonstration was said to be to bring awareness to the treatment elected officials and citizens are facing when speaking out and asking questions.
Although many individuals wanted to speak out, some feared backlash from the MN-S and chose to remain anonymous.
One protestor had said, Being together is the strongest thing people can do.
“Injustice to one is injustice to all. If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything, and I believe now as a people all over, we need to stand together, band together, rise up, and let our voices be heard.”