Scenes from Métis Games during National Aboriginal Day Events in Ottawa
On June 21, Métis from all across the homeland are celebrated National Aboriginal Day (Click here to read a National Aboriginal Day Message from Métis Nation of Ontario President Gary Lipinski). National Aboriginal Day celebrations in Ottawa include a four day Solstice Festival in Vincent Massey Park. During this Festival Métis volunteers and Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) staff members are offering the Métis games. These games, which are a popular part of MNO Annual General Assemblies and other special events, offer participants the chance to learn about Métis culture and have fun at the same time!
The Métis games feature a series of contests based on the lifestyle and work of the Métis Voyageurs. These include relay races carrying weights to stimulate the arduous portages that Voyageurs once endured as well as tests of strength using traditional Métis sashes. Hundreds of students from Ottawa schools will be participating in the Métis games on National Aboriginal Day and in the following days hundreds of members of the general public will also participate. During National Aboriginal Day, MNO staff and volunteers are also operating an information tent where they are distributing educational and promotional items to the young people taking part in the Métis games.
Métis volunteers and MNO staff facilitating the Métis games and working in the MNO information tent are Hank Rowlinson, Scott Rowlinson, Guylaine Morin-Cleroux, Carmen Pregent, Shannon Davis and Marguerite Paulin.