New Lodge at Batoche opens doors to celebrating Métis history

The nation’s most important and sacred region for Métis people – the Batoche National Historic Site – is now home to a new lodge dedicated to preserving and celebrating their important history and culture.

The Dumont Lodge is an 18,000 square foot building, constructed for $8 million through a partnership between the MétisNation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) and the Urban Programming for Indigenous Peoples (UPIP). The lodge is nestled in the forest and rolling hills of Batoche, and will allow the MN-S to host everything from board meetings and Elder gatherings to youth programming to cultural showcases for governments and corporations.

“It’s not just the building. It’s the important programming that will go into it, and the access to programming that it will bring to our Métis Nation citizens,” said Michelle LeClair, MN-S Vice President and Minister of Lands and Environment.

The idea for the building came two years ago from Elder Albert LeClair, who wanted a special place where Elders felt at home and could teach children and youth to reconnect with the land through traditions, culture, and language.

They also wanted a place to house a new program called Riel Scouts – which empowers youth by teaching Métis values and deepening understanding in culture and language, said Ms. LeClair.

“By reconnecting with Métis children and youth, they have a sense of pride in their culture, they can learn from their Elders, and carry on our traditions,” said Elder Albert LeClair. “Dumont Lodge is the ideal structure in the perfect location to allow for that. I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome.”

The building, designed and built by 3twenty Modular, incorporates designs from MN-S citizen Jason Surkan, owner of SOLO Architecture. The main hall is adorned with antler chandeliers, with fiddles and sashes on the walls. Métissubcontractors also contributed to the construction at every phase.

The building is one of the many significant developments at Batoche in recent years, including returning 25 buffalo to the land in 2023, and large theatre structure where children can learn about the history of Batoche.

“Each of these pieces brings it together and makes it more accessible for our citizens in the province,” said Ms. LeClair.

With Back to Batoche Days scheduled July 18-21, the new Lodge will be prominently featured in the festivities. And LeClair said the building will serve as an important cultural connection not only for Métis Canadians but new Canadians as well.

“If we’re thinking about something like Reconciliation, our festival brings out that culture for us as Métis people, but it’s always nice to see new Canadians come out and learn about Métis culture and the people who were here before they got here,” said Ms. LeClair. “It’s beautiful because it really gives new Canadians a chance to connect with Canadian history.”

This story was originally published in Eagle Feather News. It is republished under a Creative Commons license as part of the Local Journalism Initiative.