Saskatchewan worked together to organize ceremonies to raise the M茅tis Nation flag simultaneously in front of Saskatchewan RCMP Headquarters in Regina and the Saskatoon RCMP Building in Saskatoon on Louis Riel Day (Nov. 16).听
At 8 a.m. sharp in the heart of the Saskatchewan RCMP's operations, Saskatchewan RCMP officers raised the M茅tis Nation flag to the sound of the M茅tis national anthem.听
In Regina, the M茅tis Nation flag replaced the Saskatchewan RCMP ensign and joined the Canada and Saskatchewan flags in front the Saskatchewan RCMP Headquarters. In Saskatoon, the M茅tis Nation flag replaced the Saskatchewan RCMP ensign, joining the Canada flag in front of the Saskatoon RCMP Building on Brand Place.听
The flag raising ceremonies included prayers from M茅tis Nation 鈥� Saskatchewan Western Region 3 Regional Director Wendy Gervais in Regina and Elder Norman Fleury in Saskatoon, as well as brief statements about the enduring relationship between M茅tis Nation-Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan RCMP.听
Saskatchewan RCMP Acting Commanding Officer Alfredo Bangloy said, 鈥淚t is with great pleasure that we cherish our longstanding relationship with the M茅tis Nation and promise to continue strengthening it. Even though it is honouring Louis Riel鈥檚 death that brings us here together. Today, I choose to honour his life, which he dedicated to ensuring the continuation of the M茅tis people and, in doing so, ensuring our future relationship with you. By raising the M茅tis Nation flag on Saskatchewan Louis Riel Day, we wish to recognize the existence of the M茅tis as a Nation, the existence of M茅tis Nation-Saskatchewan as a government for M茅tis citizens and to celebrate the future of the M茅tis Nation.鈥澨�
M茅tis Nation-Saskatchewan President Glen McCallum said, 鈥淩iel believed he acted honestly and that the time will come when the people of Canada will see and acknowledge听that. The heroic stand Riel and his people took in Batoche for recognition, self-determination and self-governance is still alive and well听today.听We continue to strengthen our relationship with the听Saskatchewan听RCMP and all our working partners. The rights听Riel fought for and believed in have not been forgotten and we will continue to progress with preserving our identity, culture, values and language.鈥�
The raising of the M茅tis Nation flag is becoming a tradition for the Saskatchewan RCMP.
Saskatchewan RCMP has been raising the M茅tis Nation flag on Louis Riel Day at Saskatchewan RCMP Headquarters since 2017, to recognize the contributions Louis Riel made to Canada and the country鈥檚 longstanding relationship with the M茅tis Nation.听
The M茅tis Nation flags will fly in front of these RCMP buildings all week.
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