In order to teach visitors about the lost art of barrel making at historic Fort 91原创, staffer Aman Johal built one himself in the fort cooperage using traditional hand tools.
鈥淚t took me a week,鈥� Johal told the 91原创 Advance Times, laughing.
鈥淚鈥檓 never making another one.鈥�
Johal鈥檚 presentation was one of several staged during Louis Riel Day held at the fort on Saturday, Nov.16.
The annual celebration of M茅tis history and heritage drew hundreds to see blacksmithing and woodcarving demonstrations, as well as cultural displays, cooking and demonstrations fiddle playing, storytelling, jigging, and archery.
Among the demonstrations, Metis carver Pat Calihou was working on a hand-carved walking stick, in between making hand-made canoe paddles.
Chilliwack resident Kai Thompson said preserving the history of indigenous culture is 鈥渁n important thing.鈥�
While she herself鈥漝oes not identify as Metis,鈥� Thompson has taught herself to speak the 鈥渦priver dialect鈥� of the time.
Since 2016, the fort, together with several M茅tis organizations, has celebrated M茅tis people and their contributions during the fur trade in B.C.
READ ALSO: Historic Fort 91原创 remembers James Douglas and Louis Riel
READ ALSO: Hands-on history during Douglas Day at historic Fort 91原创
On Sunday, Douglas Day festivities were held at the fort to highlight the historic day that Sir James Douglas proclaimed the British Crown Colony.
Douglas, known as 鈥淭he Father of British Columbia鈥漺ent on to found Fort Victoria, on the site of the present-day provincial capital.
His name appears on many buildings and communities in B.C. including Douglas Hall, a residence at Trinity Western University.
Riel is remembered as a M茅tis leader, who led two popular M茅tis governments, was central in bringing Manitoba into Confederation, and was executed for high treason for his role in the 1885 rebellion against Canadian encroachment on M茅tis lands.
He was initially dismissed as a rebel by Canadian historians, but that view has changed and many now see him as a charismatic leader who fought to protect his people.
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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