A group of Métis canoeists, midway through a cross-continental voyage along the fur trade route from Montreal to Thunder Bay, will arrive in Sault Ste. Marie on Saturday.
The paddlers (shown) are expected to arrive at 1 p.m. Saturday at Roberta Bondar Pavilion, escorted by a flotilla of local canoes.
They're also scheduled for a 4 p.m. appearance that day at the Echos of the World International Drum Festival, also at the Bondar pavilion.
Tony Belcourt, president of the Métis Nation of Ontario, is expected to greet the group when it arrives in the Sault.
On Wednesday, traditional healers from the Sault performed a special drumming ceremony with spiritual songs and prayers for the modern-day voyageurs as they dropped in to Thessalon.
Thursday, the group was treated to a buffalo-burger feast on St. Joseph's Island.
SooToday.com has received the following news release from the Métis Canoe Expedition:
******************** Stop at the Sault for Métis Canoe Expedition
Sault Ste. Marie, ON – June 19, 2003 – The stop in Sault Ste. Marie will have added meaning for the participants of the Metis Canoe Expedition when the 11 Metis paddlers arrive on Saturday June 21 to celebrate Aboriginal Day and the Summer Solstice.
Tony Belcourt - President of the Metis Nation of Ontario, Brent McHale - Provisional Councilor of Region 4 and John Rowswell – Mayor of Sault Ste. Marie will officiate a formal welcome ceremony at the Roberta Bondar Park Pavilion at 1 p.m.
The modern day voyageurs will be escorted to the park by a small armada of canoes that will meet them on the St. Mary's River at the Pine Street Marina.
A pontoon boat with the Metis fiddle group – The Giroux Family and local media on board will also be part of the welcoming flotilla.
The Métis Nation of Ontario in partnership with Fort William Historical Park is sponsoring the expedition, a two-month journey retracing the fur trade route taken by voyageurs 200 years ago.
The expedition to promote the heritage and culture of the Métis people is commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Great Rendezvous at Fort William and the 10th anniversary of the Métis Nation of Ontario.
The group will then depart to St. Marys Island, where the Metis citizens of Sault Ste. Marie and area will host the group in a reception at 2:30 p.m. with entertainment by the Metis fiddle group – the Giroux Family.
Later that afternoon, the Expedition members will return to Roberta Bondar Pavilion at 4 p.m. where they will be introduced on stage at the Echos of the World International Drum Festival.
The inaugural two-day event has attracted indigenous drummers from around the world.
Like their ancestors before, The Metis Canoe Expedition will face the test of the big water of Lake Superior when they depart Sault Ste. Marie Monday, June 23 headed for Batchewana Bay.
The winds and resulting high waves on Superior and its rugged uninhabited coastline will be a concern of the paddlers as they follow the northern shore of the Great Lake enroute to Thunder Bay and the Great Rendezvous at Fort William Historical Park.
Check out the Expedition on the web: www.metisnation.org.
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