Photo: Students cooking bannock over the fire.
By: Andrea Moss
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
SaskToday.ca
The third annual Métis Day celebration in Yorkton brought together students, families and community members for a full day of cultural learning and hands‑on activities. The event is organized in part through the Mitchif Early Learning Program (MELP) at Columbia School, led by teacher Alyssa Pelletier, who said the day is a key part of her program’s mandate.
“We’re teaching pre‑K, but we’re focusing on the Métis language and culture,” Pelletier said. “Part of the requirements of the program is that I have to host family engagements and community engagements. So this event is part of that.”
Pelletier said the celebration has grown steadily over its three years, supported by volunteers from Métis Local, the Yorkton Tribal Council, the Yorkton Indigenous Friendship Centre, Indigenous community workers and staff from multiple schools. Students from Dr. Brass School also helped run stations through their Art and Sports academies.
Filling a gap in Métis representation
Former Dr. Brass teacher Darcy Lepowick, now a regional representative for the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan, said the event began because Métis culture was missing from school programming.
“When I was teaching here… there wasn’t any Métis culture or Métis content in the curriculum,” he said. “We had a powwow and a round dance, but we didn’t have anything Métis. So we started a Métis Day.”
The first year drew more than 800 students. Attendance is now capped at 1,200 due to setup demands.
Traditional games and hands‑on learning
Stations throughout the grounds offered a mix of cultural education and entertainment. Pelletier said many of the traditional games came from stories shared by her classroom Kokum.
Some of the activities included arm and leg wrestling, log sawing, nail pounding and the traditional “poison circle” game. Students also roasted bannock on a stick, learned about maple syrup production and took part in face painting featuring Métis floral designs.
Dancers honour tradition
The Maeghan Bramley Memorial Steppers, a youth dance group from St. Rose, Man., performed the Red River Jig and square dance variations. Group leader Abigail LaPointe explained that the jig blends Irish step dancing and powwow influences dating back to the fur trade.
Dancer Destiny Cull said performing is a way to honour her cousin, for whom the group is named. “It’s like a way of honouring her and her Métis culture,” she said.
Students share what they learned
Students attending the event said the hands‑on activities helped them connect with Métis culture in new ways. Grade 8 student Maddox Johnson said he learned about Métis ancestry and history. Dominique Fisher, who recently moved from South Africa, said she was surprised to learn “it takes 40 gallons of oak tree sap to make one gallon of maple syrup.”
Volunteers like Randy Flurry return each year to help run stations. “Every year I come back,” he said while handing out bannock.
Students playing a traditional Metis game “poison circle.”
Flour sac race activity.
Students try sawing logs by hand.