Virtual Riel-ity: While some restrictions relax, Louis Riel Day celebrations will be online this year

While museums, art galleries and libraries in Manitoba can now operate at 25 per cent capacity, the St. Boniface Museum normally the hubof celebrations for Louis Riel Day will remain closed this Monday.

Museum director Vania Gagnonsays in past years hundreds, even thousands, would come through the doors to see the artifacts of the Mtis leader who is now recognized as Manitoba's founding father, take in some jigging andfiddling, and maybetry their hand at beading or crafts while sipping hot chocolate and eating warmbannock.

Not so this year.

On what has traditionally been a flagship day for the museum, partnering with the Manitoba Metis Federationfor day-long celebrations, the museum will be quiet this Riel Day, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It's heartbreaking, Gagnon says, but the museum is happy to provide a freeonline documentary about Riel that people can watch from the comfort of their home on Monday, to learn who hewas and what he means topeople today, andabout hisrole in bringing Manitoba into Confederation.

"This year we are sort of in this weird place in terms of the loosening of restrictions and a very tentative reopening," Gagnon said.

WATCH | How Manitobans are celebrating Louis Riel Day in light of the pandemic

Manitobans celebrate Louis Riel Day

4 years ago

Duration 2:05

Groups take celebration of Manitoba's founding father online due to COVID-19

"Even though we could have been open as of Friday, just to avoid any confusion and avoid even the possibility of a having a huge crowd on Monday, we are just going to stick with our plan to celebrate Riel Day virtually."

Instead the museum is set to reopen, with capacity restrictions, on Tuesday, following Riel Day.

Manitoba Metis Federation president David Chartrandsaysthis Riel Daywill be different, but that won't take away from its importance. The MMF will partner with the St. Boniface Museum ona virtual campaign this year.

"It is not goingbe the same, of course. You can't go and directly see the artifacts that are kept there on our legendary leader, the founder of Manitobaandfather ofConfederation," said Chartrand.

"But it will definitely be a great day still, becausewe will take the time to reflect about our great provinceand how Riel fought and made the ultimate sacrifice to prevent Manitoba from becoming an American state."

He suggestsManitobansspend Riel Day which falls on what is Family Day in many other provinces with their loved ones.

That's appropriate, he says, because Riel was focused oncommunityandbringing people together.

Chartrandsaysfamilies could visithistoric sites in St. Boniface, such as Riel's gravesite, and take time to cherish what makes the province great for all of its people, whether Mtis or not.

He estimates thereare about 125,000 Mtis in Manitoba.

About 1,400 are students at the University of Manitoba, according to Laura Forsythe, the Mtis inclusion co-ordinator at the school.

She consulted with students about how to celebrate during the pandemic, and says while many were saddened there won't bethe usual celebrations and parties, they came up with a strategy that has a much broader reach.

"We decided to launch a social media campaign where we share ourMtis teachings every single day on our social media platforms, we are sharing things like how to fillet a fish, how to do beading, lectures by esteemed scholars about Mtis history and culture," said Forsythe.

The students, she says, areexcited to have hours and hours of online content to engage peopleanytime, instead of attending an in-person hour-long celebration on the actual day.

Online Mtis programming has been in place since last April at the U of M. The uptake, Forsythe said, has been astounding. She said prior to COVID-19, organizers were happywhen about 100 people would attend a"MtisMonday" event on campus.

"Our views now on our programming is over 7,000. So many, many more people, both on campus and out in the community, are accessing knowledge we are sharing," she said.

"It is such a great impact and something we would have never have thought prior to this. It's amazing."

Forsythesays that breakthrough, and bringing awareness to so many through online platforms,has been the silver lining of the pandemic.

Back at the St. Boniface Museum, Gagnon is excited for Monday's virtual documentary screening, and reopening on Tuesday.

"We are still here. Our community is still here. Our artists and partners aren't going anywhere," she said.

"In the meantime, we are excited to share this historic documentary as a way to celebrate. And there are personal stories too from descendants. It's a great way to cap off Valentine's Day."