56th Festival du Voyageur kicks off Friday at Winnipeg’s Fort Gibraltar

Winnipeg may be in a cold snap, but that won’t stop people from heading down to Fort Gibraltar for the 56th annual Festival du Voyageur, which begins Friday.

The official voyageur family – the Hutlets from Lorette – gave CityNews a preview of the festivities.

“Our role as the official voyageur family is really a role of being ambassadors for Festival du Voyageur and to spread the joie de vivre to everybody that comes to celebrate the festivities,” said Philippe Hutlet.

“It’s a place where we can celebrate our language, our French language and our culture,” added Danièle Hutlet.

Their four kids – Danika, Élise, Rémi and Mia – shared their favourite things about the festival.

“Walking around the part and meeting new people,” Danika said.

“I like rocking around the park,” said Élise.

“I like seeing all the sculptures,” added Rémi.

“Saying Hého,” said Mia.

Robert Loiselle, the MLA for Saint Boniface, says it’s not a true Festival du Voyageur without the frigid cold.

“Historically, Winnipeg 150 years ago didn’t have bridges,” Loiselle explained. “So when the rivers froze, people were able to visit again and cross our rivers to go see family. So it is a festival of not just bridges that we have now, but cultural bridges, and we encourage everyone to come to Festival du Voyageur.

“My parents were official voyageurs in ‘77, ‘78, ‘79 – Lucien et Lucienne Loiselle. So I grew up in this. So to me, this is like coming home every winter.

“I love the winter. Feel the warmth of winter as we say.”

For some, connecting with Métis roots is what’s bringing them into the fort this year.

“I’m a very spiritual person, and that’s where I found my calling,” said veteran Devin Beaudry with the Red River Métis and Royal Canadian Air Force.

Beaudry found out about his Métis ancestry later in life; he never knew his heritage until his younger brother started to dig into their family history. It then took nearly 10 years to confirm the family was Métis.

Beaudry even got emotional at Thursday morning’s press conference while he talked about how his family struggled with identity for a long time.

Now, he’s doing everything he can to engage with the community – from wearing his sash to coming to Festival du Voyageur for the very first time. He says he feels at home in Manitoba even though he grew up in British Columbia.

“I’m seeing a lot of things that I should have been more involved with and looking forward to coming here,” Beaudry said.

Métis artist Jaime Black-Morsette is behind an interactive installation in the fort called “Woman is the Medicine.” She’s hoping people take a moment to offer a red ribbon to her willow sculpture.

“I really want people to have a chance to show their care for Indigenous women and girls by tying a red ribbon onto this willow structure in the shape of a woman and a woman’s dress,” Black-Morsette said.

“I really hope that when we come to leave an offering of a red ribbon that we’re thinking about not just the violence women are experiencing but the power and the medicine that women hold.

“I’m really thinking about the power of women as healers. To heal themselves and to heal each other.”

For the next 10 days, people can immerse themselves in Festival du Voyageur and learn about the Franco-Manitoban, Métis and First Nations culture that make up the largest winter festival in Western Canada.

“So this is part of who we are,” Loiselle said. “It’s our heritage, it’s our culture… French is the vehicle for the culture so it’s important that we celebrate that culture and share it with everyone.”