Louis Riel Day

We continue to honour our Métis hero; Louis Riel, by learning the history of his legacy and his fight to preserve Métis culture and language. Students have been engaged in lessons that focus on the Michif language through songs and prayers, Métis heroes, Métis traditional foods and medicines, patterns that represent the Métis through visual art projects, and jigging and fiddling. Students have been learning about prominent Métis leaders of both past and present by listening to stories, reading books, and researching leaders. With the support of one of St. Michaels’ teachers, artist Lesley Kerpan, we have created colouring pages of some Métis heroes, both past and present. We are proud of our leaders and community members who continue to advocate for Métis rights and Métis education. Leaders you will see represented included; our Métis Nation President Glen McCallum and the Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. President, Shirely Isbister. 

We are working to combine all colouring pages into a beautiful book. One that students can share and use for years to come. We have connected with each leader for their blessing and permission for this project, and they are so excited to see the result. We will share a few pages within this newsletter. Feel free to print and use it! 

Our school community joined for a memorial event to pay our respects to Louis Riel and to share his vision and dream for the Métis people. The purpose of this event was to highlight the work of our students. Louis Riel’s dream was to see Métis culture and language being taught to children for generations to come. Here at St. Michael’s, we are living his dream out loud. Each classroom had an opportunity to share something they have been working on, a few examples were a Michif song, Métis patterns, playing of the fiddling, jigging dance, making moccasins, and Métis foods and recipes.