The importance of Métis veterans to the Métis community cannot be understated. Our veterans occupy a point of honour at all Métis gatherings and cultural events. The Métis Veteran’s Memorial Monument, planned for Batoche, Saskatchewan, will be a landmark for generations of Métis people to gather and pay homage to the servicemen and servicewomen who have served our country.
Already a site sacred to the Métis, Batoche is a fitting site for people to gather to remember and honour Métis Veterans. It is accessible to all Métis people and the general public. In July, 2010 Métis Honour Runners ran 100 kilometres to raise funds and show support for the Métis Veteran’s Memorial Monument Project. Each July, Governing Members of the Métis National Council make an annual pilgrimage to Batoche.
As a contribution to this project, the Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI) has agreed to donate its time and resources and will oversee all work related to the completion of this project. The cost to build this monument is $300,000. As of August 26th, GDI has received a little over $57,000 in funding and is seeking the balance of $243,000 from corporate sponsorship, private donations and community fundraising activities.
For this project a poster promoting donations to the Veterans Monument was created and copies were distributed to Métis communities. The Métis National Council is supporting the building of the Monument by providing anyone who makes of donation of $10.00 or greater with a Decade of the Métis Nation t-shirt. To make a donation, please contact:
Gabriel Dumont Institute
Toll Free: 1-877-488-6888
Email: general@gdi.gdins.org