Community members from around Niverville gathered at the Musée St. Pierre-Jolys Museum in St-Pierre-Jolys on June 21, 2026, to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day with a celebration of Métis culture and heritage.
The event was hosted by the St. Pierre Métis Local, a newer organization that separated from the St. Malo local about four years ago. Organizer Dwayne Ginter said the day was about reconnecting with roots that run deep in the area.
“We’ve been part of this area for 150 years,” Ginter said. “We can be proud of that. And now we can claim that as our identity.”
Attendees took in live fiddle and guitar music from Gilles Crevier and Ryan Spence, along with jigging performances. Traditional Métis foods including bison burgers and pea soup were served, while a beading workshop gave hands-on learning for all ages. A firekeeper shared stories, and a plant walk through the forest behind the museum highlighted local Métis history.
St-Pierre-Jolys sits within the historic Rat River Settlement, where Métis families have lived since at least 1827. Ginter noted that events like this help people reconnect with an identity that may have been disrupted over generations. “Even though we weren’t necessarily raised in the culture, I’ve learned through reading and through listening to other speakers,” he said. “It’s not our fault that we were taken away from our culture.”
This year marked the 30th anniversary of National Indigenous Peoples Day, first proclaimed in 1996 by Governor General Roméo LeBlanc.
