Lucas Welsh plays a tune on stage at the Cando Community School on Fri., Mar. 22 during Cando Metis Day. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Metis Day

The Metis flag is raised for the second year in Cando

Mar 22, 2024 | 7:27 PM

Under a crisp and sunny blue sky, groups of students got to witness a special sight at Cando Community School.

With more than one hundred pairs of eyes watching and the anthem playing, the Metis Nation-Saskatchewan flag was proudly waved and added to the Cando Community School to official mark the start of their second annual Metis Day celebrations.

“Today’s Metis Day is about informing everybody on what a Metis is,” said Kim Fisher, president of Western Region 2A (Local 55).

“When I ask a lot of youth on if they know what a Metis is, they have no idea.”

Fisher, the originator of the Cando Metis Day idea, explained the day was to help educate the young people on the culture, Michif language and history of the nation. When Fisher was a student at the school, he said there was never any mention of Metis and he has since made it his mission to change that for the next generation of children.

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Eight-year-old Jaimeson Benson weaves a paper sash at the Cando Community School on Fri., Mar. 22 during Cando Metis Day. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW)

“This is Metis community and there’s no Metis flag there, there’s the First Nation flag up there,” he said referring to the genesis of the idea.

“We’re trying to get that back into the schools, back into the learning and it’s really picking up now,” he said, noting some schools have already developed Michif curriculum.

“That’s what we’re working to here in the school is to get that as a part of the program here.”

The event brought students and educators from different schools out to attend the festivities and with a gymnasium full of young people rapt with excitement, opening ceremonies began with a few welcome speeches, house-keeping items before people were sent out to the various activity rooms.

“This morning was an absolutely exceptional experience just because we had so many more students this year and a lot more community involvement,” said Principal Sarah L’Hoir in a follow-up interview.

Les Morin teaches students about traps at the Cando Community School on Fri., Mar. 22 during Cando Metis Day. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW)

She explained that being a school with 100 per cent First Nations and Metis students, celebrating their culture was a recognition of all of the young people who learn within its walls.

“This morning when we raised the flag and listened to the anthem, it was just very moving how – how respectful – all the kids were,” added L’Hoir with emotion.

Throughout the day, students got to take part in interactive activities including beading, sash weaving, trapping demonstrations, and even eating Bannock on a stick. Beloved fiddle players Phil and Dallas Boyer and Lucas Welsh also joined in to get people in the mood for dancing.

According to nine-year-old Averi Mckenzie, her favourite activity in the morning sessions was beading.

“It’s where you can find out how to make the stuff you like to make,” she said, noting she created a pattern with her beads.

Tessa Keskotagan, a teacher with Clifford Wuttunee School, said beading was actually the number one choice for a number of her students.

“I think we were really enjoying the activities,” she said.

“We were outside, they were setting up for Bannock and then we went in beading the Metis infinity symbol, so that was really nice, and the kids really loved that.”

A few of the stations were animal related such as antler creations and rainbow trout. Fisher said it was to help the students learn the cultural aspects.

“Some of the Metis used to trap beaver, cayote, lynx, you know, all that stuff, fishing was a big part of us,” he said.

“We’re informing of how the old timers used to do it to how modern people do it, so it’s a big change.”

Bannock on a stick cook over the flames at the Cando Community School on Fri., Mar. 22 during Cando Metis Day. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW)

The president explained that the town, only recently incorporated last fall, are working to make their mark.

“Yeah, we’re a small town but what do they say about small things? Big things happen.”

The day was a busy one and Fisher said he was excited about the fish fry and taking part in the demonstrations but as a musician, he was looking forward to hearing that horsehair hit the strings.

“When that fiddle starts, you’ll feel something and that’s what music’s about for me – feeling something,” he said.

“For me when I hear that fiddle, it’s all about that Metis pride.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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