On November 16, Niagara College joined communities in Niagara and across Canada in raising the Métis flag to mark Louis Riel Day.
Louis Riel was an important Métis leader who was unjustly executed in 1885 for defending the rights of the Métis people. He is honoured nation-wide on Nov. 16 on the anniversary of his death and the Red River Resistance.
This is the first time that the Métis flag has been raised at Niagara College. Flag-raising ceremonies were held at both campuses on the morning of Nov. 16 with members of the College’s Executive Team and staff from NC’s Indigenous Education department.
Raising the flag at the Welland Campus, was President Sean Kennedy, Senior Vice President, College Operations Pam Skinner and Indigenous Student Success Leader Emily Schutt, while at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Vice President of Student Success Rick Anderson and Indigenous Student Success Leader Ashley Buck participated.
NC’s Senior Vice President, College Operations Pam Skinner, President Sean Kennedy and Indigenous Student Success Leader Emily Schutt raise the Metis flag at the Welland Campus.
“Acknowledging Louis Riel Day and raising the Métis flag at our campuses not only honours Riel’s legacy and the contributions of the Métis people to the development of Canada, it also provides an opportunity for the NC community to further learn about Indigenous history and reflect upon important Indigenous issues,” said Lianne Gagnon, NC’s Director of Student Services, which includes Indigenous Education at NC.
To further celebrate Métis culture on Nov. 16, staff from NC’s Indigenous Education department handed out Métis sash-making kits and hot chocolate in the Indigenous Garden at the Welland Campus later that morning. The brightly coloured, woven sash is one of the most prominent symbols of the Métis Nation, historically worn as traditional dress and used as an important tool by tradesmen, doubling as a rope, key holder, first aid kit, washcloth and more. Today, the sash symbolizes pride and identification for the Métis people.
For those who would like to learn more about Louis Riel’s legacy and the culture and traditions of the Métis people, Indigenous Education has provided the following resources:
Niagara Region Métis Council website
Métis Nation of Ontario website
Métis Nation of Ontario – Louis Riel Day 2021
Métis Nation of Ontario Louis Riel Day info sheet and poster
