The celebrations included several different activities including a marathon (left) for all residents and fun games such as the one above (right) where finding golf balls from a muddy pond would result in winning gift cards and other prizes.

The community of Wasagamack, MB enjoyed a weekend of festivities with games and fun activities for an exciting Metaway Day celebrations.

The Metaway Day event is a celebration of the Indigenous culture and values, created to substitute the community’s traditional annual Treaty Day celebration, which had to be cancelled due to COVID-19. The community came up with innovative ways to carry out the fun and unique activities regardless – including a marathon for adults and children and other fun games – and kept the spirit of the celebration alive.

The four-day celebration from July 29 to August 2, 2020 was open to all, and was sponsored by multiple local organizations, such as Wasagamack Health, the Education Authority, and Family Services.

The event held free breakfasts each morning, after the late-night celebrations. It also had some wonderful prizes, including gift cards, flight tickets and even a two-bedroom trailer.  

The Northern store also showed their support for the event by donating an ATV as a raffle prize. The Chief and council wanted to ensure that community members had a memorable experience during these difficult and uncertain times.

“Our culture and values are very important to us. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we could not carry on with the activities in the traditional manner. But, it is in moments such as these we must recognize the importance of togetherness and unity, and celebrate them,” shared Wasagamack Northern Store Manager Casius McDougall.

The community of Wasagamack has also been making active efforts to follow COVID-19 guidelines and has been successful in keeping the virus at bay.