Feast to celebrate Métis culture

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Ken Boshcoff will be hosting the second event in the “Proud to Be Canadian Community Feast” series—this time a tribute to Métis culture—on Friday, Nov. 9 at the Métis Hall here.
“Last year we recognized the contribution of the Ukrainian people to our local community. This year we would like to pay tribute to the Métis, the ‘Children of the Fur Trade,’” said Boshcoff.
“This is a very significant culture in Fort Frances because Métis and First Nations communities developed simultaneously around a fur trade economy,” he added.
“From this, Fort Frances emerged.”
“It wasn’t until the Canadian Constitution was enacted in 1982 that the Métis were officially recognized as one of Canada’s aboriginal peoples [along with First Nation and Inuit],” noted Sunset Country Métis president Clint Calder.
“They have been referred to by many as Canada’s ‘Forgotten People,’” he added.
“We thank Mr. Boshcoff for the opportunity to present to both the community, and the Métis people themselves, the valuable contribution the Métis people have made locally, and nationally,” Calder continued.
Sandra Allan, a local Métis, will sing at the feat. There also will be some fiddle playing by John Faith of International Falls, accompanied by the Fort Frances Highlanders and Almer Whitefish from Lac La Croix.
As well, some of the local Métis will be demonstrating jigging to the music of the Red River Jig.
There also will be story-telling by Darryl Allan, a local Métis and manager of Information Technology for the Town of Fort Frances, Calder, and Gary Lipinski, chair of the Métis Nation of Ontario.
One of the highlights of the community feast will be the Métis food. The Sunset Country Métis certainly has cultivated a large following with its fish fry at the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Tournament each July and other community events.
The Nov. 9 feast will include fish, wild rice, baked beans, and fried bread.
The evening should be both informative and entertaining. Once the program is complete, those on hand will have a chance to try dancing to some jigs, reels, and Celtic music.
Like its people, Métis music is a combination of cultures, with Celtic music having the largest influence with some Acadian music mixed in. Métis jigging is a combination of the intricate First Nation steps and Scottish and French jigs.
The fiddle music, jigs, the flag with the infinity sign, the Métis sash, and the fish and wild rice feasts have become symbols of Métis culture.
The “Proud To Be Canadian Community Feast,” which is sponsored by the Sunset Country Métis, will be held at the Métis Hall (714 Armit Ave.), starting with a social hour at 5 p.m. and then dinner at 6.
Everyone is welcome.
Tickets cost $20 each, will are available—while supplies last—at the Sunset Country Métis office, Fort Frances General Supply, or by calling Wanda at 274-6736.
Buy your tickets early as last year’s “community feast” sold out quickly.