Breaking Bread together in reconciliation in Porcupine Plain

An upcoming event at Porcupine Plain will focus on reconciliation, sharing Métis culture and welcoming the diverse cultures within the community.

Representatives from the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan Eastern Region II (MN-S ERII) and various local community leaders are in the final planning stages of Breaking Bread Together In Reconciliation, which will take place on Saturday, February 2 at Porcupine Plain Community Hall 11.

Originally, Elder Margaret Harrison reached out to ERII and the local people of Porcupine Plain to plan a cultural potluck, which then evolved into a mini-folk fest featuring Métis, Norwegian, Filipino, and Ukrainian culture.

Doors open at 2:00 p.m. and all vendors offer a dinner of authentic dishes from different cultures. Participants who attend are encouraged to bring a traditional dish to share. There will be cultural tastings throughout the day and people are welcome to bring something if they wish.

Demonstrations of every culture take place throughout the day. At 2:30 p.m., a Métis jigging workshop will start. At 3:15 p.m. there will be Ukrainian music and Easter egg painting. At 16:00 there is a Filipino performance and at 16:45 there is Norwegian music. The final performance at 5:30 p.m. features the Creeland Dancers and the Dean Smith Band.

The event is sponsored by BHP Jansen, MN-S ER II & MN-S ER II Elders Branch. Elder Harrison said traditional foods from each culture will be prepared and presented to all participants. Traditional methods of cooking and preparing each meal will be used and shown to those in attendance.

MN-S is a government governed by the Métis Nation Legislative Assembly (MNLA), which represents the political, socioeconomic, cultural, and educational interests of approximately 80,000 Métis in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan is divided into 12 regions, each represented by an elected regional director. MN-S ER II includes Porcupine Plain, Melfort, Nipawin, Wynyard, Preeceville and Hudson Bay.

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Brent Digness is the Director of ERII. He is also the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism for the MN-S. He said he looks forward to this event and hopes to bring unity in the community and more events of forgiveness to other communities in his area.

There are approximately 60 Métis citizens in the Porcupine Plain and Chelan Locals who are members. Around 350 Métis citizens who are members of the local community live in ERII. These numbers don’t include youth, so they’re actually higher when that’s taken into account.

Since Minister Digness was elected and became Director for ERII, there has been a significant increase in the number of Métis people receiving citizenship in ERII.

Nicole Goldsworthy, Reporter for the Local Journalism Initiative, Humboldt Journal