'Birth of a nation': Annual Louis Riel Vigil Walk takes place in Regina
Members from Métis Nation Saskatchewan along with residents paid tribute to the leader of the Métis people Saturday at the 15th annual Louis Riel Vigil Walk.
On Nov. 16th, 1885, Riel was hung for high treason after the Métis Resistance was defeated in May of 1885.
Riel was executed on the grounds of the RCMP barracks in Regina, 139 years ago.
“Louis Riel, he's the birth of a nation. He's the forefather of our nation. When you think about it, we hadn't been really recognized and Canada hadn't really taken notice till we were back then. We were just a group of people. Today we are a nation of people, more specifically here in Saskatchewan,” said Wendy Gervais, the Regional Representative of Métis Nation Saskatchewan Region III.
For the last 15 years, the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan honour his legacy by holding the walk.
“We seem to continue to be the forgotten people and so about 15 years ago, community got together, and they said we’re going to start doing this annual walk,” Gervais said.
- Get the CTV News app for Saskatchewan breaking news alerts and top stories
As part of the walk, the group visits the exact spot where Riel was hung and pay tribute.
“As we move forward over the next few years and we continue to do our vigil, we welcome everyone. Not just Métis citizens but we welcome all citizens from regional to come joins us,” Gervais added.
The walk began at 5 p.m., with the group starting at Optimist Park and walking down Dewdney Avenue and then ending at the RCMP Heritage Centre.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Father, 2 children missing from northern B.C may be travelling to Alberta: RCMP
Mounties in B.C. are asking the public for help locating a father and his two children who have not been seen since Friday.
Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy as financial losses pile up and debt payments loom
Spirit Airlines said Monday that it has filed for bankruptcy protection and will attempt to reboot as it struggles to recover from the pandemic-caused swoon in travel and a failed attempt to sell the airline to JetBlue.
Ottawa family heartbroken after being scammed over $22K on fake Taylor Swift tickets
A few weeks ago, they learned the tickets they booked last August were never real.
Moscow warns U.S. over allowing Ukraine to hit Russian soil with long-range weapons
U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to let Ukraine strike targets inside Russia with U.S.-supplied long-range missiles was met with ominous warnings from Moscow, a hint of menace from Kyiv and nods of approval from some Western allies.
Trudeau says he could have acted faster on immigration changes, blames 'bad actors'
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government could have acted faster on reining in immigration programs, after blaming 'bad actors' for gaming the system.
Two men accused in fatal border crossing to stand trial in Minnesota
Two men are to stand trial on human smuggling charges this week, almost three years after a family from India was found frozen to death on the border between Manitoba and Minnesota.
Arbuckle throws for two touchdowns to lead Argos past Bombers 41-24 in Grey Cup
Nick Arbuckle threw two touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts to a 41-24 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Grey Cup on Sunday. Toronto captured its 19th Grey Cup, the most in CFL history.
Opposing plans to end Ukraine-Russia war could clash at G20 summit
Support for Ukraine will be tested at the G20 summit as nations clash over whether they should continue offering military support for Kyiv or impose a truce on a conflict which began with Russia's invasion nearly three years ago.
Parliament remains gridlocked amid Trump trade talk and postal strike
Parliament closes in on its eighth week of gridlock over a privilege motion, as Canada Post employees are on strike and calls emerge to exclude Mexico from upcoming trade talks.