Celebrating Métis heritage on Louis Riel Day
News Release – Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) Territory
K’emk’emelay̓ (Vancouver, BC – Nov. 16, 2024). The Our Children Our Way Society celebrates the life and enduring legacy of Louis Riel.
Louis Riel is remembered as a champion of Métis Rights and for his fierce resistance to settler occupation of unceded territories. As the leader of the Red River and North-West Rebellions, Louis Riel sacrificed his life in service to Métis people.
Louis Riel was declared a founder of Manitoba in 1992 and officially recognized as the first leader of Manitoba in 2016. The Manitoba Métis Federation continued to push for Riel to be granted the title of first premier, and Premier Wab Kinew bestowed that designation on Riel in 2023.
“We must cherish our inheritance. We must preserve our nationality for the youth of our future. The story should be written down to pass on.” – Louis Riel
The Our Children Our Way Society is proud to recognize our member Métis organizations that ground their service delivery practice in Métis heritage, traditions and values.
Island Métis Family and Community Services Society will host a Louis Riel themed Elder’s Tea with Saskatoon berry tarts on November 16th, 2024. They will also host a Louis Riel themed dinner for their Early Years Métis families, featuring trivia questions about Louis Riel (Vancouver Island, November 25, 2024).
Lii Michif Otipemisiwak Family and Community Services will celebrate Louis Riel Day on November 16, 2024 with an annual Dinner Celebration and Silent Auction Fundraiser! For more than 25 years, LMO has been bringing community partners together to honour and celebrate the resilient spirit, culture, and community of Métis people in recognition and remembrance of Louis Riel.
Métis Family Services (La Societe De Les Enfants Michif) continues the tradition of Métis Family Nights featuring food, music, and entertainment (Surrey, November 27, 2024).
The Our Children Our Way Society remains inspired and uplifted by the young Métis people we are privileged to learn from as they step into leadership roles. At the Our Children Our Way Conference 2024, MC Madelaine McCallum (Métis) reminded us that as Indigenous people, “we also have something called intergenerational strength, and we are all here as an example of our people having intergenerational strength.”
Welcoming the youth from the Invincible Story Telling Panel, these young leaders spoke about their experiences growing up in care, and how this impacted their identities and experiences as Indigenous people.
We hold our hands up to the Métis, whose resistance to colonization is as palpable today as it was in Louis Riel’s lifetime. Hiy Hiy and Marsee for your contributions to the wellbeing of all Indigenous people across Turtle Island.
Visit the Our Children Our Way YouTube Channel to watch INVINCIBLE: Our Voices from Care
Read the stories: https://invincible.uvic.ca https://kinshiprising.uvic.ca/
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For further comment, please contact: Jennifer Chuckry, Executive Director, Our Children Our Way Society [email protected]