Metis students at Sask. Polytechnic’s Prince Albert campus raise the Metis flag on Wednesday. Photo by Chelsea Laskowski
Students at Saskatchewan Polytechnic are taking time out of their day to learn about Metis history for Louis Riel Memorial Day.
Events for the day at Prince Albert’s campus include Metis Jeopardy, tea and bannock, and a quick lesson on the history of the Metis sash. This is all in addition to the annual flag raising that has been taking place for a number of years, with Shelly Belhumeur at the helm.
Belhumeur is a Metis woman, as well as an employee under the campus’s Aboriginal Student Achievement Plan.
“I grew up in Saskatchewan and I’ve had a Metis card since 1967 so it’s not something that’s new for me. It’s not something that is a fad passing or passing, it’s my culture, it’s who I am and I’ve always been in support of it,” she said.
Louis Riel Day is held on the anniversary of the Metis leader’s death, which Belhumeur acknowledges is a little stark, but she uses it as a chance to share some history of her people.
This included a rendition of the 2010 version of the Metis National Anthem, called Proud to be Metis, by instructor Kim Kuzak.
Kim Kuzak plays the Metis National Anthem. Photo by Chelsea Laskowski
“As the song said that we were singing, we were called the forgotten people before and so that’s no longer. We’re starting to be proud of our culture and show people who we really are,” Belhumeur said.
She also explained the history of the Metis flag.
“The infinity sign is actually two circles coming together, and that being our First Nations community and the European community that came over. And when those two communities came together, that created the infinity sign, saying our culture is going to last and go on forever,” she said.
Belhumeur said a staff and student committee has taken great efforts throughout the year to host First Nations and Metis-themed events, and and those efforts are showing in how attendance has grown at Louis Riel Day.
“It is growing. People are starting to understand that the culture, our Aboriginal culture, whether that be First Nations or Metis, is important,” she said.
Finally, Belhumeur says beyond Louis Riel Day, Sask. Polytechnic is taking steps across the province to integrate First Nations and Metis culture into its curriculum.