Métis Week kicks off in Edmonton with city proclamation

Métis Week is officially underway in Alberta, recognizing Métis heritage in the province and celebrating the culture.

Edmonton held a gathering at city hall on Tuesday where an official proclamation was made by Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, on behalf of city councilors, declaring Nov.12-18 as “Métis Week” in the city.

In an interview with Windspeaker Radio Network, President Andrea Sandmaier of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation within Alberta says that throughout the week, “across the homeland, we’re all commemorating Louis Riel.”

Louis Riel Day falls in the middle of Métis Week on Nov. 16, and Sandmaier says that the role Riel and his legacy played in getting to this point today is monumental.

“The Métis have been fighting for our rights for many years, and also fighting for Canada to recognize Louis Riel for what he did and being a founder of Manitoba. We’re very proud of what Louis Riel did,” Sandmaier said.

Being a Métis woman herself, Sandmaier has family who fought in the resistance alongside Riel. She said that this week is all about remembering all of the Métis people who fought for their rights in the past, and to keep those dreams alive into the future.

“We’re a resilient people, the Métis. We still keep going and looking forward to fulfilling Louis Riel’s dream of self-government and self-determination, ” Sandmaier ended with.

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