From left: Region 5 Captain of the Hunt Richard Sarrazin,
MNO Sudbury Métis Council Chair Maurice Sarrazin and
MNO North Bay Métis Council President Marc Laurin at the
Harvest Gathering.Submitted by Linda Krause, MNO Employment Counsellor
September 26 was a great day to have a Harvest Gathering! Hosted by the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) North Bay Métis Council, with beautiful sunshine and excellent weather, participants came together at Dutrisac Cottages in Sturgeon Falls. Organizers started the day by setting up their booths and workshop tables.
Visitors attended the festivities from as far as Sudbury, including Provisional Council of the MNO (PCMNO) Region 5 Councillor Juliette Denis, MNO Sudbury Métis Council Chair Maurice Sarrazin and other Métis citizens of Sudbury along with their families.
MNO North Bay Métis Council President Marc Laurin showed off his fire-making skills and started a campfire that lasted all day.
Lunch was provided by the MNO North Bay’s Healing and Wellness Branch. Everyone enjoyed traditional moose meat, bannock and a wild meat chili that really hit the spot!
There was much to do and plenty of entertainment. Many of the workshops went on throughout the afternoon and included body scrub making and Métis dot art painting.
Special guest Lorraine Montreuil from Mattawa came to teach participants how to make talking sticks, also called a speaker’s staff, and she gave a lesson as to the importance of it being used during Aboriginal gatherings, allowing each person to have a turn speaking his or her mind.
There were games and prizes for children and live local fiddle players entertained the young and old. There was also drumming, marionette dancing, artifacts to see and a voyageur canoe displayed along with MNO tables sharing information about many programs.
Victor Amyotte, a local camper at Dutrisac Cottages, gave rides in a handmade Thomas the Train pulled by a golf cart. He had lots of fun and so did the kids.
To finish off the day, President Laurin hosted a delicious fish-fry with the help of Region 5 Captain of the Hunt Richard Sarrazin. The MNO North Bay Métis Council brought out a delicious cake for dessert. It was yummy!
Congratulations to all the prize winners and a huge thank you to everyone that made the 2015 Harvester’s Gathering a success!
For upcoming events, check out the MNO North Bay Métis Council website.
Published on: November 5, 2015