Alberta competitor presence felt at Batoche celebration

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Canada's premiere Metis celebration, Back to Batoche 2000, witnessed a return of people from all over Canada and some states for the 30th anniversary of the event.

This year's July 22-29 attendance definitely surpassed last year's 2,000. According to the sponsoring Metis Nation of Saskatchewan, an estimated 10,000 came. This year, Batoche ran for a full week compared to the usual three-day weekend.

A major highlight was the July 27 arrival of a Metis voyageur group that traveled 800 km over land and water following the routes of their ancestors of 100 years ago.

The party of 22 set out from Slave Lake, Alta. in late June. They travelled by canoe on the Athabasca, Beaver and North Saskatchewan rivers. On land, they moved by horse and wagon and a Red River cart. As the party closed in on Batoche, others on horseback joined in with the trekkers who were greeted royally and with shouts and whistles that echoed through the hills and valleys of the pretty Saskatchewan River district.

One of the organizers and participants, Trevor Gladue, said it was an experience he'll never forget.

Bev New, president of Zone V of the Metis Nation of Alberta, said "It was an honour to share our history and culture with everyone during the trip as well as bring our Nation together."

The trek was documented, filmed and photographed for use in schools, conferences and workshops.

In the competitions, the Edmonton Metis Cultural Dancers beat out Prince Albert, Sask. to win the adult square dancing division. Individual members from the Edmonton group walked off with three firsts, one second and two third-place finishes in jigging.

Edmonton's Jennifer Waniandy captured first in the adult talent contest with her rendition of the Loretta Lynn hit, You Ain't Woman Enough To Take My Man. The teen category was won by Misty River from Kamloops.

A number of Albertans placed in the Metis Voyageur Games: hatchet throwing, sling shot, flour packing, log carrying and the milk can carry.

Cody Blyan of Edmonton won the junior division in hatchet throwing, and Leon Goodstriker, a Blood Indian from southern Alberta, was very impressive in log carrying, flour packing and milk can carrying, and managed to place by a very narrow margin in most events.

The wedding of Ken and Jackie Hedin from Slave Lake was quite possibly the first such occurrence at Batoche Days. It was highlighted by their touring about the Batoche campgrounds on a horse-drawn wagon.