‘To come home’: Back to Batoche Days wraps up

Image shows 71-year-old Marion Gonneville in the jigging finals on Sunday. (CTV News/Stacey Hein)

After four days of celebrating Métis culture and community, Back to Batoche Days wrapped up Sunday evening.

Elder Norman Fleury described the festival as one big family reunion.

“We’re bringing people home here,” said Fleury, a provincial elder with Métis Nation–Saskatchewan. “This is a place to connect with your distinction, with your identity, your music, your stories, your dance, your languages.”

Fleury says roughly 40,000 people attended the event to reunite and connect with their community.

Back to Batoche Days features cultural music, dancing, entertainment and competitions.

Many Métis artists also set up shop during the festival.

Miguel Vielfaure owns Etchiboy, a Winnipeg-based business specializing in a variety of Métis items, including arrowed sashes.

“It’s probably where there’s the most amount of Métis people gathering in one weekend. So, for me, it’s my biggest weekend of the year,” Vielfaure said.

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Back to Batoche Days is internationally recognized as a significant Métis cultural celebration, welcoming people from across Canada and beyond.

Marion Gonneville, 71, travelled from Vancouver to attend the festival and take part in the jigging competitions.

“To come home and to be among your own people, you feel really good,” Gonneville said.

Ron DesJarlais travelled 710 kilometres from Rocky Mountain House, Alta., to attend the festival for the second time.

“Everybody’s just so friendly and gives you that welcome feeling,” he said.