Voyageur Games

During the fur trade, the strength of Voyageurs paddling down the rivers and across the homeland was the beginning of many Métis competitions. Through the knowledge of Elder Max Morin and Veteran Felix Merasty, young people will learn about log throwing, animal calls, fire starting, flour bag carrying, and trap setting. These traditional games continue to bring our community together.

Veteran Felix Merasty

Felix was born in Île-à-la-Crosse and attended high school in Prince Albert. In the late 1970s he joined the Armed Forces. After this, he completed his education at the Northern Teacher Education Program (NORTEP). Felix taught at schools throughout northern Saskatchewan for many years and in between teaching positions, he worked in mining. A lifelong athlete and coach, Felix left teaching to follow his passion for motivating people. He has been the recreation director with Orano at the McLean Lake mine for the last several years. Felix is an avid cross-country skier and marathon runner. Felix has also been an organizer of Voyager events at Back to Batoche days.

Elder Max Morin

Elder Max Morin’s Île-à-la-Crosse roots run deep. He was born there, attended the northern village’s residential school for five years, and served as their mayor for several years. Elder Morin attended high school in Saskatoon. He has many years of experience working with the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan government at both local and regional levels. Elder Morin has a passion for the people of the north, and he has served on health and development boards as a representative of his community. He is also a Michif speaker.

Now that we have the history of Métis Voyageur games, meet five-time Queen Trapper, Clarissa Burns from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Clarissa will demonstrate some of the skills and show us how we stage our own Voyageur Games in the school yard or back yard.