if they did not need to. The Red River Cart was tough Our Ancestors forged a new and unique identity that and versatile. These carts could transfer between 300 is not found anywhere else. These individuals who to 400 kilograms of freight and cross waterways if want to claim they are Metis are trying to piggyback needed. And if fur traders were forced to cross large on the hard work of our modern and historic Metis waterways, the York Boat was critical. York Boats Governments. were shallow and designed to navigate large bodies of water with a large carrying capacity. Just on June 15 a man in Brandon pled guilty for falsely claiming to be Metis in an attempt to evade On June 19, we hosted yet another event celebrating charges under the Fisheries Act. The man was the legacy of our ancestors at the Victory at Frog confronted by a Manitoba Conservation officer after Plain. This was a great afternoon that included a he saw that the man had too many lines in the water barbeque at Seven Oaks House Museum, followed by and eventually found barbed hooks on the lines. The a ceremony with guest speakers at the Seven Oaks man claimed he was Metis but could not produce Monument on Main Street in Winnipeg. June 19 is a card when asked and was given three days to truly one of the most historically significant days of produce this card but never did. Metis history. More than two centuries ago, over a couple of years, our Ancestors pushed back against The man was not only charged under the Fisheries This past weekend, the Manitoba Metis Federation the arbitrary laws and improper seizures announced Act, but Judge Donavan Dvorak also fined the man (MMF) hosted a number of events to celebrate and approved by the Governors of the Hudson’s Bay $750 for attempting to obstruct the investigation by Manitoba 150. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company (HBC) territories in Rupert’s Land, including claiming Metis identity. I want to commend Judge the Red River Settlement. Dvorak for doing his part and handing down a stiff Metis Nation Jig & Jam Variety Show was able to bring our people together to celebrate the creation penalty to show that abusing Indigenous rights is not of our beautiful province. In 1814 the HBC issued the Pemmican Proclamation to be taken lightly. which prohibited the export of pemmican from the As we all know 2020 is the 150th anniversary of the Red River Settlement. The Metis did not recognize I would also like to commend the conservation officer Metis joining Canada in Confederation and our Metis the HBC as having any authority over the Settlement for continuing to follow up with this man and making 150 committee has been finding innovative ways to and continued to trade pemmican outside of the sure that he did not get away with this false claim. celebrate throughout the past couple months despite Settlement. The HBC retaliated by stealing pemmican We need to protect our inherent Section 35 rights for COVID-19. I am very confident that the success of our from the Metis. which we fought so hard to get recognition. These Metis 150 celebrations is in the capable hands of the rights are collective and belong to the Manitoba MMF’s Metis 150 Committee. As you can imagine, this led to a very adversarial Metis. Individuals cannot hijack these for personal relationship. In 1816, Metis leader Cuthbert Grant Jr. gain. The Jig & Jam Variety Show is one such success, and his men encountered a group - a militia - led by which took place on June 21 as a part of the MMF’s Governor Semple and an altercation broke out. The We can learn a lot from our history. As the President celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day. reports made at the time show that Semple’s party of the MMF I was asked over this past week to The intention of this day is to give all Canadians shot first. The Metis quickly responded. This battle comment on the petition calling for Wolseley’s an opportunity to celebrate Indigenous heritage, not only marks a major victory for our Ancestors, name to be removed from street signs, schools, diversity, and achievements. but it is also widely considered the birth of the Metis and neighbourhoods. We discussed this at our Nation. Cabinet meetings and came to a consensus that we The Jig & Jam was an eight-hour livestream that did not want Wolseley’s name removed from any included one hour featured on CTV. We showcased Celebrating the Victory at Frog Plain allows us to monuments or signs. world-class Metis entertainment, including tell the true story of what transpired two centuries jiggers, fiddlers, and musicians, as well as beading, ago. For 200 years the skirmish was wrongly blamed Rather than erasing the colonial history of Canada blacksmithing, and woodworking workshops. Thank on the Metis and described as a massacre. In and risk forgetting about it, we want these you to all the artists that contributed, and we truly 2016, during the 200th anniversary, the park was monuments to stand the test of time and give us the appreciated our special guest Johnny Reid joining us redeveloped, and the true story was finally told: the opportunity to tell our story. For generations we have in celebrating the role that Indigenous people have in Metis did not fire the first shot and we were not the been denied the ability to tell our story, just like the our great country. villains of the story. Victory at Frog Plain. But now we have a voice. Now is the time for schools across the nation to teach the The Metis Nation has no shortage of achievements The Victory at Frog Plain also helped give us a story of Wolseley’s Reign of Terror and the turmoil worth celebrating. The Metis shaped the North-West reputation as a Nation that is not afraid to fight for he brought to our Settlement. However, if Wolseley’s with our various inventions and contributions to the our rights. This spirit lives on in the Metis today as name gets removed from signs and schools he will Indigenous landscape. After all, it is the Metis that we continue to further the rights of our Nation. One slowly fade from our memory, and so will the voices invented the Red River Cart and York Boat, changing of the major fights that we face today is with the of our Ancestors who sacrificed so much. These the background of the fur trade and how our misuse of Metis identity in Canada. names on signs, monuments, and schools offer Ancestors navigated our Homeland. unsurpassed educational teaching moments. I believe that we are in a pivotal moment in history The Red River Cart allowed for easier travel across when it comes to protecting our Nation. We face Speaking of education, over the past few months, the plains of North America. Traders and travellers threats from fake Metis across Canada in places like the MMF has been working diligently to plan were no longer stuck travelling along the waterways eastern Ontario, Quebec, and even in the Homeland. numerous graduation ceremonies in every Region across Manitoba. These ceremonies are meant to province. They are the future of our Nation and I look health experts are warning of a second wave of the give our Metis university and college graduates an forward to reporting back on details of this success virus to come in a few months. We need to remain opportunity to still walk across the stage in front story. mindful of this potential threat and continue to of their loved ones and celebrate with fellow Metis diligently adhere to pandemic protocols in order to classmates despite pandemic protocols. Please, continue to keep those affected by COVID-19 keep those around us safe. in your prayers. Though the cases in Manitoba are It is no small accomplishment to complete your post- among the lowest in Canada, there are still many Meeqwetch, secondary studies and we wish these graduates well people suffering across the country and the world. as they are enjoying their celebrations across the Manitobans are not out of the woods yet, as many President David Chartrand, LL.D. (hon), O.M. MMF marks 204th anniversary of the Victory at Frog Plain A monument stands at Main Street and Rupertsland waiting on Lake Winnipeg. Semple attempted to went into battle as a people, and it was the first Boulevard in Winnipeg, marking the approximate use his power to detain Grant and his men as well time we won in battle as a people. It was a decisive location where, 204 years ago, the Metis Nation as confiscate their supplies. At this pivotal moment victory.” defended itself and triumphed at the Victory at Frog in history, Grant decided to stand up for the people Plain. Each year on June 19, the anniversary of the of the new Metis Nation living at Red River against The commemoration ceremony included a free Victory at Frog Plain, the Manitoba Metis Federation colonial oppression. community barbeque at the Seven Oaks House (MMF) invites Metis Citizens to gather at the Museum, where attendees were greeted by monument to pay tribute to this important moment For many years, the battle was called “the Massacre interpreters in historical clothing. Seven Oaks House in the Metis Nation’s history. of Seven Oaks,” then later the name was changed is the oldest home in Winnipeg and one of the oldest to the “Battle of Seven Oaks.” The Metis people of remaining residences in Manitoba.