Jason McKay, The Wandering Metis (The Wandering Metis/Facebook)

By Derek Craddock

WHERE WILL HE BE NEXT?

Recognizing one year for Saskatchewan’s ‘Wandering Metis’

Jul 15, 2023 | 8:00 AM

Back to Batoche Days is not only a great celebration for the province’s Metis people, it also marks one year since the start of “The Wandering Metis.”

Jason McKay has used that moniker since Back to Batoche Days in July 2022. Back then, the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan wanted somebody to walk around and capture people’s stories on video.

McKay volunteered and started calling himself “The Wandering Metis” as he joked he was wandering around the festival site asking questions.

“I just kept saying it over and over and over and then people just started acknowledging me as The Wandering Metis.”

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He said at first, many people were hesitant to share their stories on video but as Back to Batoche Days continued, more people were willing to share.

“Some people didn’t want to stop, they wanted to be heard.”

The adventure didn’t stop at the end of last year’s festivities as McKay grew his newfound identity to share the stories of Metis people across the province.

“I’ve travelled around the province all the way from La Ronge, Ile-a-la-Crosse, Saskatoon, Duck Lake down to Indian Head and Regina,” he said. “We’re trying to capture and educate people on who we are as Metis people through stories, celebrations, cultural events and Metis way of life.”

Since launching his social media profiles under the name “The Wandering Metis”, people have taken notice. More than 100 people follow his Instagram profile and almost 600 follow him on Facebook.

When looking back on the past 12 months, he said one of his biggest memories was learning to trap and set a net with students from Ducharme Elementary School in La Loche.

Now, McKay is looking forward to returning to where this journey began, at Back to Batoche Days which run July 20-23.

“That’s our biggest celebration,” he said. “That showcases who we are as Metis people and people get educated at Batoche.”

“I look forward to keep going around the province and educate not only the people of Saskatchewan and Canada but anybody in the world that wants to learn who we are as Metis people.”

You can follow McKay’s journey by visiting his Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages.

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @princealbertnow