Barney Morin grew up in southeastern Manitoba and now works with the Manitoba Metis Federation. He notes ‘Locals’ are like mini regions within the MMF’s governmental system.
"The Manitoba Metis Federation has 7 regions and within all of those regions, there are locals and those locals usually comprise of a couple of different communities and then it represents their needs Metis-wise. It's usually creating cultural events, letting people know about the bigger Metis events and then eventually connecting them to better services and better use of their Metis Government."
The Rat River Local will be entirely volunteer-run and Morin says their first meeting is scheduled for November 3rd. He notes an election will be called and those in attendance will choose a chair, a vice-chair, and a secretary-treasurer. From there the larger region will review the Local application and decide whether or not to approve it.
Morin says he would like to see other Metis people in the St. Pierre and Otterburne area embrace their heritage.
"I am from Otterburne and St. Pierre St. Malo, that is where my parents are from and that is where I grew up my whole life, I am lucky to be from there but there’s not a lot of representation for Metis in that community. A lot of the history was hidden, my grandmother didn't know she was Metis until about 10 or 15 years ago. I was only 15 when I could learn that."
Morin says it wasn’t long ago that Metis people really started to feel they could be proud of their heritage. He notes the Rat River area is rich with Metis history.
"It was an old wintering spot. People who worked for the fur traders would go off, traps some furs, log some wood out in the Rat River area and then they would go back and work for the forts in the summer when the rivers opened up."
Morin says they hope to have the Rat River Local fully up and running with an elected executive by the end of 2019.
Sat, May 4, 9:00 AM
Transport, Skilled Trades, Full-time, Seasonal
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