More bison will soon be re-located to Batoche.
25 bison were initially transported to the area in 2023 due to an agreement with Parks Canada and the Metis Nation-Saskatchewan.
Friday morning, at the Back to Batoche Festival grand opening ceremony the two groups announced another agreement, which will see even more bison added to the area.
The agreement will see 50 head of bison transported to the Batoche grounds from the Lebret herd by the end of this year.
“Batoche National Historic Site is a powerful symbol of Métis heritage, and we’re honoured to celebrate it each year at the Back to Batoche Festival, where we can come together and recognize what makes us strong,” said Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture. “This festival is a special moment to deepen our partnership and reaffirm the Government of Canada’s commitment to Indigenous stewardship and reconciliation — honouring the past and empowering the future of the Métis Nation.”
In the meantime, the Batoche festival is fully underway with a weekend long schedule of Metis cultural events set to take place.
A grand opening ceremony took place on Friday morning with several dignitaries on hand.
“Batoche is a sacred place—a place where our ancestors stood together in times of hardship and fought so we could gather here in peace,” said MN-S President Glen McCallum during his opening address. “Here, we remember who we are as Métis people and how far we’ve come. This government has made a tremendous impact on our citizens’ lives and continues to make its mark across the province, the country, and our Nation. Let’s never lose sight of that shared purpose.”
A new addition to Batoche this year is a radio broadcast throughout the weekend. 106.1 Resistance Radio! Will be broadcasting throughout the weekend from previews of the days events, elder stories, and conversations with Metis citizens. The broadcast will take place daily at the festival from 8am to 6pm.