Michif language learners from the Batoche region participated in a naming ceremony alongside Métis leaders to commemorate the arrival of 16 new calves to the Batoche bison herd. The calves, the first to be born in the area in approximately 150 years, were introduced to students from St. Louis, Duck Lake, and Bellevue, Saskatchewan by Métis elders. Earlier this year, students from various parts of the province were invited to contribute names for the calves.
In 2023, Métis Nation—Saskatchewan (MN-S) collaborated with Parks Canada to relocate 25 yearlings from a herd at Grasslands National Park to Batoche, followed by an additional 50 bison last year. The field trip aimed to provide students with a hands-on learning experience about Métis heritage through land-based education, according to Darcy Lepowick, MN-S minister of environment, agriculture, lands, and resources.
The selected names for the calves encompassed the northern, heritage, and French dialects of Michif, including names like Chiraan (Northern Light), Toneur (Thunder), La ci flesh (Little Arrow), and Li pchi (The Little One). The naming of one calf as Groos tet, meaning “Big Head” in English, delighted Samantha Campbell, a Grade 10 student at St. Louis Public School studying Michif language.
Following the naming ceremony, a group of students and onlookers ventured into the bison enclosure to observe the herd. Angela Rancourt, a Michif language instructor and coordinator of the Michif early learning program, emphasized the significance of the event in connecting students to their heritage and allowing them to witness the bison up close.
As the bison population grows, Lepowick mentioned plans to relocate some bison to establish new herds, with the current herd nearing its carrying capacity. The upcoming spring is expected to bring more calf births, with the buffalo serving as nucleus herds for other Métis communities across the province.