A Celebration of Indigenous, Métis, and Voyageur Culture

This weekend, the largest winter and French culture festival in western Canada celebrates Indigenous, Métis, and Voyageur culture.

From February 18-27, enjoy curated digital content and outdoor events. The outdoor aspect of Festival du Voyageur has been dearly missed, says Chantal Vielfaure, Director of Marketing, Communications and Sales, and Festival is excited to once again celebrate at Fort Gibraltar

“I’m excited to see people at the park. To hear the music, and I really hope people get wowed at the new concert trailer.”

The new concert trailer isn’t the only entertainment people can expect at this year’s event. The 53rd edition of the historical Festival tells the history of Manitoba, and you can’t tell the history without telling the stories of Manitoba’s Indigenous, First Nations, and Métis peoples. Festival has taken considerable time to focus on these diverse cultures coming together and sought distinct ways to represent that in its programming. As French-Métis herself, Vielfaure is a product of those relationships. 

“I didn’t start to learn what that meant to be French-Métis in Manitoba. I was a little bit older and into my adult years. We keep learning and fostering relationships with different elders. Festival also takes a private approach to the staff, educating us and having private ceremonies with elders. So we can better understand where we’re coming from when we’re putting these things in our programs.”

Vielfaure notes they take a careful look at who they’re booking for performances featuring artists from a wide variety of backgrounds. A new addition to this year’s lineup includes an infinity fire, a new fixture becoming a part of the park to last for years to come. 

With restrictions in full effect last winter, Festival faced severe difficulties trying to figure out how to celebrate this staple of Manitoban winters. Vielfaure says they developed a digital format that still engages the community, but everything depended on how quickly they could adapt, doing it because they love how much joy it brings.    

“We want to make sure we continue having that Festival joie de vivre everyone talks about and loves. With the virtual last year, we didn’t want to give up, and we wanted to make sure we could offer something. People were at home; they needed something to look forward to and smile.”

With how strict restrictions were last year, it was impressive what was all able to be offered at Festival du Voyageur, pivoting to virtual concerts, take-home traditional meals, virtual jig contests, a beard-growing competition, and a video component called Minut Michif.

outdoor