Prince Albert Daily Herald
Photo courtesy of Back to Batoche Back to Batoche organizers hope crowds will return in 2022 when the festival resumes in-person events. Organizers made the event a virtual one this year to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Although they won’t meet in person, Métis people from across Western Canada are still showing their pride at Back to Batoche.
The annual celebration of Métis culture returned virtually on July 22, with events continuing through the weekend until July 25. The celebration is streaming live at www.backtobatochedays.ca.
Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN–S) Minister of Culture and Heritage Sherry McLennan said the virtual shows have widened the appeal even more.
Back to Batoche Days Online
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McKay explained she knows the urban Métis Locals are ready, willing, and capable of running programs and services, but explained they just lack the funding to do so.
“All three locals have had to fundraise to be able to have offices, and with COVID happening, their ability to do so dried up. The MN-S had been asked to support the locals, but no supports were ever given, not even a pen, pencil, or piece of paper, nor were the locals allowed to speak at the MN-S meetings,” she said.
Moving forward, McKay expressed her belief that the biggest challenge for the MN-S lies with the need to create harmony within the organization and have the Métis people work together.