Presented by the Métis Nation
of Ontario
The Expedition will follow 2300km
of historic trade routes used by the Métis Voyageurs,
in the 18th and 19th centuries. The seven modern-day Voyageurs
(Alison Croft, Amanda Strong, Angela Wassegijig, Chris McLeod,
Ginny Gonneau, Jeremy Brown and Rubecka Davidson) will spend
8 weeks paddling west until they reach the Batoche National Historic
Site in Saskatchewan where they will join in the annual Back
to Batoche Celebrations during the third weekend in July.
Tony Belcourt, President of the MNO
stated "This expedition
will provide our Métis youth with a unique, once in a lifetime
opportunity to follow in the shadows of our ancestors." The
Voyageurs will be travelling in a historic twenty-six foot voyageur
canoe while on the water, and where they can't travel via water
they will do the historic portages that our ancestors did over
200 years ago.
A major component of the MCExII is
the celebration and promotion of the contribution of Métis people to Canada's history.
Along the route the voyageurs will be visiting many Métis
communities to share their experiences and provide educational
sessions on the Métis. President Belcourt said "This
expedition will bring a greater focus and source of pride to Métis
people and communities along the route and we look forward to them
taking part in supporting and encouraging our young voyageurs." In
the past some communities held a feast for our participants to
show their appreciation for the hard work that they are doing,
or some would have members in their community show up at the river
to cheer for them as they passed by!
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