Thousands of people gathered at Batoche over the weekend for the annual Back to Batoche celebration, bringing together Métis citizens and visitors for several days of culture, entertainment and recognition.
The 56th edition of the gathering was expected to draw tens of thousands of people from Saskatchewan, across Canada and beyond. Events included cultural competitions, entertainment, racing and ceremonies celebrating Métis history and identity.
One of the highlights was the introduction of the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan President’s Medal, described as the Nation’s highest honour.
The inaugural medals were presented to Elder Joanna Potiyondi and Gerald Morin for their lifetime contributions to the Métis Nation. Potiyondi has served as president of Local 15 in Melville for 50 years and has dedicated much of her life to preserving and sharing Métis culture and traditions.
Morin, who is from Green Lake, was recognized for his work advancing Métis rights, governance and nation-building. He previously served as president of both Métis Nation–Saskatchewan and the Métis National Council.
The gathering also came at an important time for Métis Nation–Saskatchewan’s pursuit of self-government. Federal and Métis officials have been working toward a modern treaty intended to formally recognize the Nation’s right to self-government, with federal officials describing recent progress in that process as an important milestone. There were some rumblings that a special announcement on that matter would come this weekend, but that never materialized.
Back to Batoche also saw Métis Nation–Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan sign an agreement aimed at strengthening collaboration on Métis priorities, research, education and governance.
The annual gathering is one of the largest Métis cultural celebrations in North America and takes place at the historic Batoche site, an area with deep significance to Métis history.