Students learning the Michif language in the Batoche region took part in a naming ceremony with Métis leaders to introduce 16 new calves to the Batoche bison herd. These calves mark the first bison births in the area in almost 150 years, according to Métis elders who shared this information with students from St. Louis, Duck Lake, and Bellevue, Saskatchewan. Earlier in the year, students from various parts of the province were invited to participate in naming the calves.
In a collaborative effort in 2023, Métis Nation—Saskatchewan (MN-S) teamed up with Parks Canada to relocate 25 yearlings from Grasslands National Park to Batoche. An additional 50 bison were added to the herd last year.
The field trip provided students with a hands-on learning experience about Métis culture through land-based education, as highlighted by Darcy Lepowick, MN-S minister of environment, agriculture, lands, and resources. Observing the buffalo in motion and engaging with the elders and teachers directly enhances the students’ retention of historical information related to the Métis settlement in the area.
The newly named calves reflect the northern, heritage, and French dialects of Michif. Notable names include Chiraan (Northern Light), Toneur (Thunder), La ci flesh (Little Arrow), Li pchi (The Little One), and Groos tet (Big Head). Samantha Campbell, a Grade 10 student at St. Louis Public School studying Michif, expressed delight in the chosen names, particularly “Big Head,” noting the warmth and humor behind the naming process.
Following the name unveiling, a group of students and onlookers ventured into the bison enclosure to observe the herd up close. Angela Rancourt, who teaches the Michif language class and oversees the Michif early learning program for pre-K and kindergarten students, emphasized the significance of connecting with the land and celebrating this event together, emphasizing the students’ identification with their heritage.
Rancourt further stressed the importance of the students seeing themselves represented in this cultural context and the value of utilizing the Michif language in the naming process. As the bison herd grows, plans are underway to relocate some of the animals to establish new herds, serving as nucleus herds for other Métis communities across the province.
