D-Day 80: A Red River Métis Expedition

June 6, 2026

Today is the 82^nd anniversary of D-Day, wherein the Allied Forces carried out the largest air and sea attack on German Forces, marking the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe during WWII.

In 2024, the Manitoba Métis Federation sent a delegation of Red River Métis Youth, Veterans, and Cabinet Ministers to attend Canada's National ceremony commemorating the 80th Anniversary of D-Day at the Juno Beach Centre in Normandy. Hosted by the Red River Métis Veterans Department, Red River Métis Youth learned about the sacrifices and contributions our Red River Métis Veterans made for our freedoms through intergenerational discussions while walking the same paths as our Ancestors who fought in France.

Visiting WWI and WWII historic sites and cemeteries where our fallen ancestors were laid to rest was an invaluable experience for all in attendance. We held two ceremonies at the Bény-sur-Mer and Bretteville-sur-Laize cemeteries to pay our respects and honour the Red River Métis soldiers who gave their lives for ours and for the French Citizens of Normandy - a people they didn't even know. The formative relationships and lasting impressions made among delegates would not have been possible without the financial support of the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Urban Programming for Indigenous Peoples (UPIP) fund. We thank DND and UPIP for their gracious support.

Additionally, with funding from the Métis Veterans Legacy Program, two Red River Métis businesses, Kizuk Productions and Sage Research and Consulting, travelled with the delegation to document the delegates' experiences. The MMF is grateful for the opportunity to share both the video and the report to showcase the lessons and experiences of those who attended and to create a legacy of remembrance for all those who have sacrificed for our freedoms.

It's Not Just History - 2026

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