Club President John Kralt welcomed 20 Rotarians in addition to Visiting Rotarian from RC Grimsby Harry Pelissero; Guests Teresa & Rich Barich; Guest Speaker Derrick Pont; a 1st Beamsville Scouting contingency including Scout Leader Roy Caja & 3 Scouts. During the usual opening exercises led by Pod #1 members, Bob Groh offered his Thought of the Day…"To appreciate Spring is to believe in tomorrow... it is a reminder of how beautiful change can be.”
CHEQUE PRESENTATION
1st Beamsville Scouts happily received $3000 as Lincoln Rotary's contribution in support of their upcoming trip to Kandersteg International Scout Centre (https://www.kisc.ch/) in Switzerland this summer.
50/50
Martha Kralt had the winning ticket but neglected to pull the winning card.
HAPPY BUCKS
Happy Birthday to Terry Kotwa, Bob Groh + David Suzuki
It was a beautiful sunny morning, a sentiment that the majority expressed with their HAPPY BUCKS.
In addition…
Maria happy to be on time for the meeting
Jennifer is recruiting LL volunteers
Sue is happy for Spring and going to the cottage at Easter
Harry not so happy to share the news that Wiarton Willy died
Derrick is happy that the sun rose and we will have flowers soon.
John K - Scouts are here
David G explained that he and his wife, Julie, are third party sellers on the Amazon platform. From time to time, they donate slightly damaged or unused toys/crafts they've received from suppliers or have had returned by customers and cannot be repackaged and sent back to Amazon. Recently, they received a thank you note that warmed their hearts… “I really can't tell you how much your donations help. Recently we had a mom in a shelter in tears because even though she was in the shelter, and the kids were safe with her, her son couldn't understand why he wasn't getting a birthday gift. As soon as she told us, I was able to make things all better! We had some toys in the basement from you and put them in a gift bag. Mom was so happy and so was her son. She kept saying thank you!”
PROGRAM
NIAGARA REGIONAL METIS COUNCIL
Speaker: Derrick J. Pont, President
Photo by Sue Foster
Derrick provided powerful insights into Métis history, culture and community work in the Niagara region.
1. Youth & Education A major focus of the Council is supporting youth through cultural education and hands-on learning. Programs for children and teens include family camps, outdoor skills (like canoeing and bush survival), cultural crafts, and storytelling. These initiatives help young Métis people build identity, confidence, and a strong connection to their heritage. The Council also works closely with Niagara College to promote Indigenous education and awareness.
2. Harvesting Rights – The R v Powley A key moment in Métis rights history came from the Supreme Court case involving Steve Powley. This landmark decision confirmed that Métis people have the right to harvest (hunt, fish, and gather) in their historic communities for food and cultural purposes. It was a major step forward in recognizing Métis rights across Canada and protecting traditional ways of life.
3. Métis Presence in Niagara While many people associate Métis history with Western Canada, Derrick highlighted that Métis communities have deep roots across Ontario, including Niagara. Today, local efforts are focused on rebuilding community connections, increasing visibility, and sharing Métis culture with the wider public.
Métis Identity & Values
The Métis flag, featuring the infinity symbol (∞), represents the lasting and unbroken culture of the Métis people.
The concept of “Two-Eyed Seeing” encourages using both Indigenous knowledge and Western knowledge together for a more complete understanding of the world.
Closing Derrick J. Pont’s presentation offered a meaningful look at Métis history, rights, and community-building efforts—while emphasizing the importance of youth, education, and cultural pride for future generations.
