Every year on June 21, Métis celebrate National Aboriginal Day. This important day is an opportunity for Métis and other Aboriginal people to remind our fellow Canadians of the very important contributions made by Métis, First Nations and Inuit peoples to this country. It is a day to let your Métis spirit shine as we honour the summer solstice and celebrate our culture and heritage. Below are a few of the events that were hosted and attended by Métis in Ontario:
Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) President Margaret Froh and members of past MNO Canoe Expeditions with Prime Minister Trudeau at the National Aboriginal Day canoe event in Ottawa. (L-R) Josh Szajewski; President Froh; Prime Minister Trudeau; Amilia Di Chiara; Genevieve Routhier; Heather Bunn; Emily Ingram; Gerald Lavallee; Kyle Grenier; and Kyle Burton. Click here to read the full story.
President Froh with the MNO youth who spoke to the Senate
Committee on Aboriginal peoples on National Aboriginal Day. (L-R) President Froh, Kelly Duquette, Katelyn LaCroix and Mitch Case. Click here to view the full story.
MNO staff from the Dryden Northwest office held a community BBQ in celebration of National Aboriginal Day. (L-R) Janet Hipfner, MNO Community Support Services Coordinator; Mandy Montgomery, Employment Developer; and Tori Finlay, MNO Métis Healthy Babies Healthy Children Coordinator.
The Community of Renfrew County came together at the Pembroke Marina to celebrate National Aboriginal Day.
The Community of Renfrew County came together at the Pembroke Marina to celebrate National Aboriginal Day. Métis, First Nations, Inuit and other community members enjoyed a fun filled day celebrating Indigenous culture. MNO staff members were heavily involved in the event including activities such as bannock making, Indigenous crafts, dancing, drumming, singing, teaching circles, a health fair and much more! The day brought in over 500 people including schools around the county who wanted to immerse their students in Indigenous culture.
(L-R) Deputy Director, Inspector Brian Therrien, MNO Veterans’ Council Sgt-at-Arms Rob Baskey and OPP Aboriginal Policing Bureau Commander, Superintendent Mark Pritchard.
On National Aboriginal Day, MNO Veterans’ Council Sgt-at-Arms Rob Baskey ?presented Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Aboriginal Policing Bureau Commander, Superintendent Mark Pritchard and Deputy Director, Inspector Brian Therrien with a copy of the MNO veterans’ book entitled, Fighting for Canada Before there was a Canada: Ontario Métis Veterans pass the torch.
MNO Thunder Bay Métis Council Treasurer Bryanna Scott speaking at the City of Thunder Bay’s National Aboriginal Day activities held at Marina Park in Thunder Bay.
Bryanna Scott, MNO Thunder Bay Metis Council Treasurer, brought opening remarks to the City of Thunder Bay’s National Aboriginal Day activities held at Marina Park in Thunder Bay. Scott acknowledged the traditional homeland of the historic Métis community in the Thunder Bay area and provided guests with some Métis history. Métis people have lived in the Thunder Bay area from the beginning of the nineteenth century and following the making of the Robinson Treaties in 1850 in an area that was known as Prince Arthur’s Landing and later Port Arthur. Their settlement at Fort William is recognized as one of the first Métis settlements in Canada.
(L-R) John Konawalchuk, MNO HSSMMC Chair; Dianne Beaudry, MNO HSSMMC Councillor; Brenda Powley, MNO HSSMMC Senator; Steve Gjos, MNO HSSMMC Secretary; Ernie Gatien, Region 4 PCMNO Councillor; Shirley Loubert, MNO HSSMMC Women’s Representative; Ken Smale, MNO Historic Sault Ste. Marie Métis Council (HSSMMC) Councillor; Virginia Rydal; and Alicia Blore, MNO Education Officer.
On June 21, 2016, the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) Historic Sault Ste. Marie Métis Council (HSSMMC) partnered with Batchewana First Nation to celebrate National Aboriginal Day! The all-day event took place on Whitefish Island in Sault Ste. Marie. The day included many different activities including a welcoming address, family activities, a fish fry, a step dancing contest, a mini Pow Wow and fireworks at dusk. The MNO HSSMMC and the MNO Summer Youth Cultural Program facilitators helped to organize and lead several activities for guests. It was a very successful and well-attended event!
Posted July 13, 2016