COLUMN: Carillon Flashback April 17, 1996 – Arborgate students treated to a lesson on Métis culture

Manitoba’s lieutenant-governor danced a jig with one of the students, joined the Manitoba Métis Federation president for a children’s song and delivered a lesson on Métis culture to an enthusiastic elementary school audience in La Broquerie.

Yvon Dumont commended the staff of Arborgate School for their efforts to showcase the variety of people that make up Canada, during Cultural Awareness Month activities at the school.

“Canada is made up of people from many different cultures from all over the world, determined to work together to make this the best country in the world.”

In Manitoba, more than anywhere else, the Métis identify with each other, separately from French, Indigenous and all other nationalities, Dumont explained. In the past 20 years, people have become more aware of the role Métis played in the history of Manitoba.

As a young person, Dumont said he did not learn much about Métis people in school and what he did learn, he did not much like. They were seen only as rebels, he said.

In 1992, the Canadian Parliament recognized Louis Riel in his historic role as the founder of Manitoba. Over the years, Dumont learned the early history of Manitoba was also the early history of the Métis people.

“The more I learned about the contributions of our ancestors, the more pride I felt as a young person and the more aware I became of Canada as a country.”

The lieutenant-governor told the elementary students it was important they stay in school, as any missed opportunities today would be missed for the rest of their lives. The days are gone when people finish school, get a job and stay with it for the rest of their lives.

Métis Federation president Billyjo De La Ronde squatted down on the gym floor for a sing-a-long session with the youngsters and echoed the lieutenant-governor’s feelings about Métis culture and education.

De La Ronde told the students he had a friend who complained there were only three things that kept him from becoming a teacher, a doctor, or a lawyer. When asked what the three thing were, he replied, “Grade 10, Grade 11 and Grade 12.”

The Métis Federation leader said it was important to have a vision, a commitment to that vision, and to care enough about it to carry it out.

La Broquerie student Rhiannon Lynch demonstrated the lively footwork of the Red River jig and was joined by the lieutenant-governor and Métis Federation director Marielee Nault of Woodridge, for an encore.

Dumont wore his colorful Métis sash for the occasion and the children were given a brief lesson on sash weaving, and told of the practical, as well as, decorative purpose of the sash.

The sash was copied from French-Canadian Voyageurs and was used as a strap across the forehead to carry heavy bundles on one’s back during canoe portages. While he was still president of the Métis Federation, the lieutenant-governor carried 200 pounds in this fashion, the students were told.

At Arborgate, he would limit his demonstration of Métis culture to the Red River jig, Dumont replied.