‘A beautiful day’: Moose Jaw Métis take bus trip to Batoche festival

Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

Among the more than 40,000 people at the Back to Batoche Days festival on July 21 was a busload of Moose Javians, who attended the festival to celebrate their Métis heritage and the history of their people on the land that is now part of Canada.

The Back to Batoche Days festival commemorates the 1885 Battle of Baresistance of the Métis Nation to encroachment by settlers. The Métis are often called ‘children of the fur trade’ and are descended from marriages between First Nations peoples and Europeans. They formed their own mixed-race cultural identity, including the Michif language, the jigging dance, foods, beading styles, customs, and more.

“The Batoche site was, of course, the site of the 1885 Métis rebellion that took place in Northern Saskatchewan,” Darrell Hawman, president of Moose Jaw’s Métis Local No. 160, told the Moose Jaw Express for a previous article. “It was a battle for the rights of the Métis to their land and to be able to practice their culture. The (Canadians) came out with their army and unfortunately the Métis were defeated. And it’s a National Historic Site, and over the years the Métis have built up the fairgrounds there.

“It’s an annual event where the Métis Nation gathers to celebrate our culture and traditions.”

Hawman said this year’s Batoche festival, which set attendance records, was very well organized and had plenty of activities.

“There was lots to do,” Hawman said.

“I must say, I was very impressed with Métis Nation Saskatchewan. They did a great job of organizing and making sure there was lots of support on the ground.

So, hats off to the provincial group. ... It was a very good trip.”

Hawman’s twin sister, Darlene Veroba, took her grandchildren along on the trip. She said it was a wonderful chance to connect more with her heritage and for her grandchildren to see where they come from.

“My mom had made a promise to her dad that she wouldn’t talk about being Métis,” Veroba said. “We always heard comments like, ‘Oh my god, you look [Indigenous],’ but my mom never said anything. And then all of a sudden, she started telling us that her mother was born on a reserve in Montana, but she still didn’t go into details.” for a place in Canada, as Métis,” she went on. “And there were food trucks and bannock ... and they had bands playing, and jigging, and it was all very interesting and we watched it all together. It was a beautiful day. I think everyone should go to Batoche.”

Hawman has since become an expert on Métis history and an avid advocate for Métis culture, and their children and grandchildren are in no doubt about their heritage.

“Almost all my children have their Métis cards, and they’re proud about it,” Veroba said. At Batoche, the family visited all the historic sites — the grandchildren were wide-eyed at the bullet holes still in the walls of the church where the Métis made their last stand.

Catch the spirit of Watrous-Manitou Beach’s magic waters

If there is an area of Saskatchewan that can be labelled “exotic,” it is Watrous-Manitou Beach, located about 150 kilometres up Highway 2 north of Moose Jaw.

On a hot summer day, the heat of the sun beats down on Manitou Lake and its shallow valley. For generations, area residents and visitors have soaked it in from the beach while enjoying an ice cream in the mineralized waters that First Nations people believe have healing properties.

Christopher Istace - For Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com tou’s three beaches where swimmers can venture into the cool, salty waters to discover its amazing buoyancy.

For those less enthusiastic about a dip in the lake, the Manitou Springs Resort Hotel and Spa provides the same healing swim in a heated setting. Patrons can further retract from weekday stress with a visit to the spa for a massage or esthetic service.

Golfers of all kinds can hit the fairways on three different facilities. Athletes who prefer a ball can play nine holes on the par 36, 3048-yard Manitou Beach Golf Club, or tap in the kids and play miniature-golf across the road. Meanwhile, disc 18-hole courses in the province at Murray Disc Golf Course just south of the Manitou and District Regional Park campgrounds. Watrous hosts many more amenities for sports enthusiasts, with a swimming pool, groomed baseball diamonds, skating and curling rinks, a bowling alley and much more.

The district sits in the heart of Canada’s grain belt and includes the Town of Watrous and the Village of Manitou Beach, the latter located four kilometres north of the town. As a unit, the Prairie friendliness the calming natural aesthetic of the area. The recreational escape has attracted tourists for more than 100 years by making accommodations for every member of the family, from Little Johnny to Grandma Margaret.

The Watrous-Manitou Beach recreation area boasts a wide variety of recreational and cultural amenities and events.

The arts play a strong role in Watrous-Manitou’s popularity as well. The historic Danceland dance hall continues to operate lakeside with weekly dances held throughout the summer season featuring country, polka, old-time and rock music from the 1950s and 1960s. The facility is internationally renowned for its horsehair the most popular polka and old-time music acts in Canada.

Walking along Lake Avenue from Danceland to the Main Beach, pedestrians can browse art, antique and gift shops or check out various cafes, bars and restaurants. The village also has one of the last few drive-in theatres operating in the province, where the family can enjoy the sunset with an outdoor movie experience. Among the major events hosted at Manitou Beach are a selection of arts festivals. Musicians and performance artists move in July 21 and 22 for the Manitou Beach Busking Festival before the writers and readers gather Aug. 4 and 5 for WOW Manitou (Wonder of Words Literary Festival). The annual Manitou Beach Chainsaw Carving Festival hits the stage a week later, while the annual Manitou Music Festival occurs in September.

In Watrous, the event of the summer involves the rubber meeting the road. The annual Watrous Fun Run Show and Shine took place this past weekend on July 29. Hosted by the local chamber of commerce since 1992, the show features vintage, custom and unique vehicles from throughout plenty to marvel at with the 250 cars, trucks, tractors and motorcycles that line Main Street for the occasion.

The twin communities have plenty of options when it comes to overnight stays. Watrous hosts conventional hotel and motel rooms at an economical rate. Besides the resort and spa at the lake, various accommodations are available, including small rental units. There are several bars, restaurants and cafes to choose from, beach-side burgers and fries.

For those who prefer to camp, the Manitou and District Regional Park sits above the village just a walk up the hill. The campground facilities include 230 serviced sites on a property within easy reach of the golf course, the drive-in, the beach and various walking trails.

For more information, visit the Watrous-Manitou Beach Recreation Area website at watrousmanitou.com and townofwatrous.com.

Smiling faces, bright blue skies, and warm weather greeted the crowd at Moose Jaw annual Summer Festival kicked off with great success.

The Summer Festival was organized service areas. activities.

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com counts.”

- was, and the answer was unanimous: “All of it!” vices. “The entertainment has just been tival. entrance is located on the west side of the

Izzy Sopp (left) and Aidyn Adkins (right) showing their painted faces.

- overheard talking about the show even after it was concluded.

- the magician was amazing,” the Diversi-

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May 2023 was $7 billion, up 89.8 per cent from May 2022. Saskatchewan’s economic momentum continues as we provide sustainable and reliable food, fuel and