The Métis Nation Celebrates 15th Anniversary of Louis Riel Day
TORONTO (November 15, 2007) --- Hundreds of Métis Citizens and friends are expected to gather at the Northwest Monument at Queens Park in Toronto on Friday to take part in the 15th Annual Riel Day Commemorative Ceremony.
Ontario’s first stand-alone Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Michael Bryant, and Grand Council Chief of the Anishinabek Nation, John Beaucage, will be among those in attendance this year.
"November 16th marks a significant occasion of observance for the Métis Nation," said Métis Nation of Ontario President, Tony Belcourt. "This date gives us an opportunity to bring about an enlightened focus on the significant role and achievements of Louis Riel and the Métis Nation in the building of Canada."
The events will begin at 10:30a.m. with the raising of the Métis Nation flag and a sacred pipe ceremony to commemorate the Nation to Nation Relationship between the Métis Nation and the Anishenabek Nation.
The Métis are a distinct Aboriginal people with a unique culture, language, and heritage, and with an ancestral Homeland that centers around Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, parts of the Northwest Territories, as well as the northwestern United States. The Métis played an instrumental role in the shaping of Canada and work tirelessly to share their culture, music, traditions, and knowledge of the environment with their fellow Canadians. Today, the Métis live, work, raise their families and pay taxes in communities all across Canada.
OPEN
INVITATION TO ALL MÉTIS CITIZENS AND FRIENDS
It is with pleasure that I invite
you to join us at the 15th Annual Riel Day Commemorative
Ceremony at the Legislative Building at Queen’s
Park on Friday, November 16, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. A traditional
Métis Moose Feast will follow the ceremony that
will begin with the raising of the Métis Nation
flag and a sacred pipe ceremony to commemorate the Nation-to-Nation
Relationship between the Métis Nation and the
Anishenabek Nation. Grand Council Chief John Beaucage
will join me in that ceremony.
November 16th marks a significant
occasion of observance for the Métis Nation,
and ceremonies will be held throughout Canada. This
date gives us an opportunity to bring about an enlightened
focus on the significant role and achievements of Louis
Riel and the Métis Nation in the building of
Canada. Our focus at this year’s celebration will
be the new opportunity to develop an appropriate working
relationship with the Government of Ontario in light
of the appointment of a “stand-alone” Minister
of Aboriginal Affairs. I am pleased that the Minister,
the Hon. Michael Bryant, will participate in our ceremonies
at Queen’s Park as well as on the Panel at the
Law Society event later in the day.
Please see our poster indicating
the times and locations of other events taking place
on November 15 and 16 in Toronto. The City of Toronto
will proclaim November 16th “Louis Riel Day”
and the Métis flag will be raised for the ninth
year at City Hall, Nathan Phillips Square.
I look forward to having you join our gathering of Métis
citizens and friends from across Ontario at our Commemorative
Ceremony at Queen’s Park.
Tony Belcourt
President
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