Event:     Riel House Annual Métis Harvest Celebration

Time:       1:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.

Place:      Riel House – 330 River Road, Winnipeg, MB

Corn roast, music and entertainment .

Date:      Saturday, Sept. 11

Event:    5th Annual Selkirk Settler Parade

Time:     11:45 A.M. – parade leaves at noon.

Place:    Bonnycastle Park (Assiniboine Ave & Main St) (new route this year)

There will be three pipe bands this year and more participants than ever.  See the note attached.

If you don’t feel you can walk the route (a bit less than a mile) – join in at any place along the route (through The Forks and along Waterfront Drive) or just meet the parade at the Thistle monument.  This is the 5th Annual Selkirk Settler parade, and each year we need to have more and more representation from MLHS people.  Barry is on the Scottish Heritage Council of Manitoba, and will be part of the planning for the 2012 celebration events.

We are obtaining a permit to fire muskets at the Thistle monument – so come and bring your musket to fire a salute.  (Light loads)

Date:    Saturday – Sept. 25

Event:  Culture Days

Time:   Noon to 5:00 p.m.

Place:  St. Boniface Museum – 494 Taché Avenue

This event will be set up similar to what we did at Grant’s Old Mill.  Bring your demonstrations (carpentry, blacksmith, clerk, spinning, weaving, furs, quern, beading, agricultural tools, games - all displays) - and a fly or small tent.  We are obtaining a permit to fire musket so bring yours if you wish to salute at pre-arranged times.  There will be lots of public in attendance.  Last event of the season.

TO ALL MEMBERS

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CANADA DAY

Next up:

May 22 – Fort Gibraltar Bicentennial celebration.  – details soon

Ever in the Past

Judy McPherson

Chair

Manitoba Living History Society

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The following is a quotation of the statement read to the Assembly:

Manitoba Legislative Assembly

Member’s Statement

Erin Selby, MLA Southdale

December 2, 2009

Manitoba Living History Society

Mr. Speaker, as members of this H0use know, Manitoba is blessed with a deeply interesting history.  The Manitoba Living History Society has been recreating and honouring our province’s history for well over two decades.  The MLHS is a community of men and women, young and old, who share a passion for Manitoba’s vibrant past.  Through costumes, crafts, research and gatherings, the personages, events and way of life of our ancestors are re-animated and, hopefully, better understood.

In just over two years we will mark the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the Selkirk Settlers in the Red River Valley, an in anticipation of this milestone, two members of the MLHS, Barry and Judy McPherson, have co-authored a wonderful guide to the clothing that would have been worn by the settlers.  The People of Red River – A Costume Guide is both a collection of artistic depictions of the manner of dress specific to the early 19th century Red River Valley, skilfully rendered by Janet La France, a young member of the organization, and a collection of art contemporaneous of the era of the Selkirk Settlement.

This valuable project was nurtured in part by a grant from the Department of Culture, Heritage and Tourism, and proceeds from the sales of the book will help the Manitoba Living History Society plan for 2012′s Selkirk Settlers festivities.

I would like to thank Judy and Barry McPherson for their book.  It constitutes both a fun exploration of an engaging chapter of Manitoba’s history and a bulwark against the forgetting of the unique roots of our contemporary culture.  On behalf of members of this House, I thank the Manitoba Living History Society for their contributions to our province, and we look forward to the bicentennial anniversary of the Selkirk expedition knowing that our history is in capable hands.  Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Erin Selby

~

Ms. Selby attended the MLHS Annual General Meeting on January 23, 2010 where she presented the MLHS with a framed version of the above statement.   As a surprise gesture, the MLHS presented Ms. Selby with a beaded shoulder bag, hand made by MLHS member Erle Einarsson.

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Below is a scan of the framed statment presented to the MLHS.

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- Janet

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This year’s FDV was one of the best ever – from several points of view, including the fine weather.

Things went swimmingly well up in the museum this year.  As usual, the two weeks that Barry put in on research and production prior to set-up were the creative force for our displays.  We had great help from both our members and from FDV staff in carrying the heavy stuff and in set-up and take-down.  (Thanks Bill and Chris and Colin and Claire)  We had enough people to keep an eye on all the artifacts as they spent time chatting with the public and demonstrating their skills or discussing their display area.   (Nothing went missing this year.)   27 MLHS members volunteered a little or a lot of time as volunteers in this year’s Museum.  Total volunteer hours just in the museum = approximately 209.

We managed to hang two very large flags from the rafters for “Flag Day”, and then left them up for the week.  The quern (thanks Pedro & Wendy) was, once again, a popular display, as was Olivia’s Aboriginal backboard of artifacts.  Surgeon Abel Edwards and Dr. White were popular – during the school program we did countless arm amputations, to the slight anxiety of some of the student volunteers who didn’t know exactly what they were volunteering for.  Spinning is always popular and this year, Claire started teaching Zaley how to spin.  New members Kaley and Sarah-Jane – and Kaley’s daughter, Emily, managed to get new costumes ready within a week, and put in many hours in the museum, and by all accounts, enjoyed it greatly.  Erle’s niece, Tiffany, spent time with him in the tepee, and in several of the cabins, but I’m told she was not permitted to try her hand at blacksmithing (women didn’t do that).  Enno took to the “Armed to the Teeth” display and I didn’t have to worry about little (and big) boys touching the musket when he was on hand.  Louis-Simon, who was going to take over the musket display, decided that he would become senior clerk in the trade shop – a role which he filled admirably.

Enormous thanks to all our willing volunteers for coming out to help – to share your enthusiasm for history – and to just enjoy the ambience that is FDV.  Your participation and cooperation make it all come together.

Ever in the Past

Judy McPherson

Chair
Manitoba Living History Society
2012 – Bicentennial – Selkirk Settlers

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