President’s Message

The summer brings many good things we missed December 1885 prior to burial at the St-Boniface during the long winter such as warm sunshine, Cathedral. Clearly the house is an important green leaves and grass, songbirds, boating, fishing legacy that we must protect. and beaches. There is a lot of buzzing energy and general excitement in the countryside and in the As I had earlier announced, the MMF is pleased to community. There is lots to do and lots to see, in work with , through our Institute, the all too short summer season. to ensure the prominent role of the Métis Nation and our People’s contribution to building western Summer is always a great time for families to join Canada continue to be part of the Riel House friends and neighbours and enjoy what student and visitor experience. This site is an President David Chartrand, LL.D has to offer: parks, museums, outdoor sports and important part of our Nation’s and our Country’s concerts are just a few. Of particular interest to collective history. me, and I know for many of you, are the many Metis summer events put on by our MMF Locals and community members to celebrate The Louis Riel Institute offers guided tours in and around the Riel our culture, our history, and our nationhood. House as well as interpretive activities on the park grounds. To get more information about what is available I recommend contacting Examples of events such as the Shell River Jamboree that was our Louis Riel Institute at 204-984-9480, sending an email to recently held on July 12-14, the St. Ambroise Festival on [email protected] or checking out the Parks Canada website. July 16 and 17, and the St. Norbert Metis Sign Raising on July 20. An upcoming event is the St. Laurent Metis Days on the August long The Riel House is at 330 River Road just east of the Red River and weekend. I thank all the volunteers for their dedication in making this south of Bishop Grandin Highway. Be sure to visit it this summer. Its all happen. future as an invaluable public treasure depends on continuing support of the Metis Community, and indeed, all Canadians. I hope to see you To keep up with announcements about these and other events and there or at any of the other Metis special places and events across news please be sure to listen to our Metis Hour x 2 on NCI Radio, the province this summer. read our Le Metis here in the Grassroots News, and check out the MMF website. Without a doubt, there is a lot happening in the Metis Again, I want to thank all our volunteers, Home Office and Regional Nation’s Manitoba Metis Community this summer. staff, and elected representatives in the Regions and Locals for all their hard work and commitment needed to protect and showcase A great place to take the family this summer is the Riel House National our Metis culture, history, rights and pride each summer. These great Historic Site in St-Vital in . This is Louis Riel’s mother’s results are often achieved at personal cost and with family sacrifice. house. As we know, the Metis were Canada’s negotiating partners Thank you. in bringing Manitoba into Confederation in 1870. Louis Riel was the Metis Provisional Government Leader, President of the Legislative Have a great summer! Assembly of Assiniboia, and, in fact, first Premier of our Province.

After Riel’s judicially sanctioned murder by the Canadian Believe in Yourself - Believe in Metis Government following the Battle of Batoche, in what is now known Meeqwetch. as , his body was brought back to St-Vital under Metis guard where it then lay in state in Riel House for two days during President David Chartrand, LL.D Are you related to Louis Riel?

Louis Riel was the son of Louis Riel Sr and Julie All the fun happens at Riel House National Lagimodière, both intensely devout Roman Historic Site located at 330 River Road in St. Vital, Catholics. In 1858, Msgr Taché sent the young Manitoba. Join us for our Thursday Night Soirée Louis to Montreal to continue his education, from 6:00pm-9:00pm and watch the lawn come with the hope that he would become a priest. But alive with music and song of the Metis! Louis opted instead to study law with Rudolphe Laflamme, and then found work in Chicago and Riel Descendants Celebration in St Paul, Minnesota, before returning to Saint- Thursday July 25th / 10am-9pm Boniface in 1868. Friday July 26th / 10am-9pm Saturday July 27th / 10am-9pm At the time, some 10,000 Métis were living along Sunday July 28th / 10am-9pm the Red River, most of them French-speaking and Roman Catholic. Today, his many descendents For more information, contact the Louis Riel live across the Manitoba. Institute: [email protected], 204-984-9480

If you believe you are one of Louis Riel’s Join the Louis Riel Institute in discovering how descendents, bring your genealogy or family the Métis nation is one big family. knowledge and prepare to add to our giant family tree. Genealogists and staff will be on hand to help discover your connection to the father of Manitoba. Louis Riel Shelley Glover appointed Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages

On July 2013, Ms. Shelley Glover was appointed Ms. Glover is a proud Métis woman and friend of Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official the Manitoba Metis Federation who is a very active Languages. Previously, she was appointed community member with affiliations to several Parliamentary Secretary for Official Languages in non-profit organizations. May 2008, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development in Mrs. Glover is married and has raised five August 2010, and Parliamentary Secretary to the children with her husband Bruce, who Minister of Finance in January 2011. is a retired police officer and small business owner. “What an amazing opportunity. I want to thank the prime minister for believing in me and giving me this chance to help my community and my country,” Ms. Glover said in a YouTube video that was posted.

Prior to entering federal politics, Ms. Glover served as a member of the Winnipeg Police Service for almost 19 years. She had a diverse career in a variety of positions including undercover work, child abuse investigations, youth crime and gang investigations, and general patrol. Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.