Brokenhead Wetlands/Boulder Hill Hike - Sign me up!
We welcome you to join us May 25 for a pair of hikes north of the city, via Highway 59. The first is Debwendon, the Brokenhead Wetlands Trail. It is an easy 2.7 km. hike there and back on boardwalk with interpretive signage detailing traditional medicines, and their uses. Lance Guilbault, a Cree/Ojibway wisdom keeper will guide us on this first hike. If you have not yet visited this provincial treasure, take advantage of this opportunity! We are asked to stay on the trail/boardwalk; dogs are not allowed on the trail. After this hike, we will have the opportunity to have lunch at the picnic tables at Wetlands. Then we’ll head north to our second hike, Boulder Hill at Grand Beach. This moderate 5.6 km. hike is noted for its groomed trail and beautiful forest views, and winding, gentle ups and downs. It is a loop trail that takes an average of 1.5 hours to complete. (Those who wish to carpool can meet at 9 a.m. at FreshCo. At 731 Henderson Highway. The hike at Brokenhead Wetlands will begin at 10 a.m.)
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Spring Retreats: Pembina Valley Lodge
Camino Manitoba has two retreats scheduled for spring. Choose either April 26-28 or May 3-5 & enjoy the trails and extraordinary views in the Pembina Valley Lodge.
April 26-28 and May 3-5, 2024 Retreats in Pembina Valley
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Includes: All meals from Friday supper to Sunday lunch, shared accomodations, facilitation and walks.
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Where: Pembina Valley Lodge
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2024 EVENTS
- April 20 Rooster Town: A Metis Walking Tour - 15 Poseidon Bay (registration full)
- April 26-28 retreat at the Pembina Valley Lodge
- May 3-5 retreat at the Pembina Valley Lodge
- May 11 Matthew Anderson book launch "The Good Walk"
- May 25 - whole day event (Brokenhead wetlands 2.7 km, lunch, Grand Beach Boulder trail 6 km) Reflections on Braiding Sweetgrass) (Meeting near perimeter North Kildonan bus stop for car poolers)
- June 22 (Sturgeon Creek: Grant’s Mill
- July 26-28 (Camino Manitoba Walking and Music Festival, includes 3 concerts, facilitated walks & Saturday supper)
- August 24 (Treaty 1 Walk: Lower Fort Garry)
Sept 28 (Bannock Point Petroforms, Pine Point Rapids 7-9 km
- Oct 26 (Fort Whyte to Assiniboine Forest back to Fort Whyte)
- Nov 23 (Bunn’s Creek 5 km)
Metis Walking Tour - 10:45 am April 20, 2024 (Registration is full)
Email me about the Metis Walking Tour Video!
We will have many parts to the walk/tour of Rooster Town, where a Metis community lived for 6 decades until the city expropriated their homes in the early 1960s. Community art activity will be available at 11:30 for family participation. The main group will embark on the first part of the walking tour (2.5 km.), then break up into two groups to listen to Elder Frank Sais and his son present in the library. The second group will receive an interpretation of the mural on the Grant Avenue facade of the library by David Wright and have a chance to see info panels in the library or Rooster Town Park. At 12:30 p.m. the groups will switch. At 1 p.m. everyone will embark on a walking tour to the public art Rooster Town Kettle installation at Beaumont Station facilitated by artist, Ian August. (2.5 km. one way)
Walking Route 1 11:00 a.m. (meet outside north door facing Grant Ave.)
Facilitator: David Wright
Stops:
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Rockwood School
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Water pump site - Wilton and Weatherdon
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Grant Park High School - planting (Trail Association)
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Rooster Town Playground
35-45 minutes – 2.5 kilometer loop
11:30 (or earlier) Community Art Activity (patio on east side of library if weather permits, looking at Rooster Town Park)
Facilitator: Joan Suzuki
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Metis Sash Weaving
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Sashiko Metis Flower
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Sashiko Metis Infinity Symbol
12:00 Slide Presentation
Facilitators: Frank Sais, former resident of Rooster Town and his son, Darryl Sais
Group One will hear this presentation in the library. Frank’s siblings Phil and Charlene may join, plus elder Gloria Sech (nee Weaver) from Rooster Town.
They will present photos and talk about Rooster Town and their advocacy to commemorate Rooster Town.
12:00 Rooster Town Mural
Group Two
Metis history buff David Wright will interpret the mural on the facade of the library on Grant Avenue. Opportunity to have bagged lunch and fill water bottles, washroom break, and see panels in the library.
12:30 Slide Presentation
Facilitators: Frank and Darryl Sais
Group Two will hear this presentation in the library.
12:30 Rooster Town Mural
Metis history buff David Wright will interpret the mural on the facade of the library on Grant Avenue. Opportunity to have bagged lunch and fill water bottles, washroom break.
1:00 Walking Route 2
Participants are welcome to re-enact a small part of Rooster Town life (no running water) by carrying 2 litre bottles of water for this part of the walks. For the second walk the main group will head south to Taylor then along Waverley and Hurst Way to the Beaumont LRT stop (2.5 km or 35-40 minutes) where Metis artist Ian August will describe his research on Rooster Town and his creation of the giant Copper Kettle to represent water needs and hospitality of Rooster Town, as well as silhouettes of people carrying water. Around the Beaumont Station, we will have some tea and hear some fiddle music. You are welcome to bring a bag lunch and eat at the library or after Ian's talk at Beaumont Station. Around 2:00 p.m. we will walk back to the Norrie Library and should be done by 2:30 p.m. The total of all walks will be 7.5 km. There is a small parking lot near the Beaumont Station if you want to drive from the library to the Copper Kettle site.