HIGHWAY 11 NAMED LOUIS RIEL TRAIL

Released on June 20, 2001

Highway 11 has been named Louis Riel Trail. The entire 364 km length of

Highway 11 in Saskatchewan from Regina to Prince Albert will carry the new

Louis Riel Trail designation. Along with the new name, comes unique

signing to identify Highway 11 as Louis Riel Trail.



"Louis Riel played a significant role in Saskatchewan and Canadian

history," Highways and Transportation Minister Pat Atkinson said. "This

designation recognizes the contributions of the Métis to our shared

experience."



"The Métis people feel that the naming of this well-traveled highway as the

Louis Riel Trail brings recognition, not only to someone who is a hero and

inspiration to all Métis people, but also someone who played a key role in

the history of Canada," Métis Nation - Saskatchewan President Clem Chartier

said.



Under the leadership of the Mid-Lakes Community coalition, communities and

municipalities along Highway 11, the Métis Nation - Saskatchewan, and the

Saskatchewan History and Folk Lore Society, approached the government

expressing their vision for the creation of the Louis Riel Trail. The

Louis Riel Trail Association was formed from those groups to capture

marketing and tourism opportunities this naming creates. The Assemblée

communautaire fransaskoise has also added their support to the idea because

of the historic link between the Métis and the Francophone community.



"Louis Riel is a key figure to unravelling the events of the 19th century.

There is a story to be told in the history of the North West - a saga of

fur traders, Aboriginal people and settlers. Our intention is to package

this saga so as to enhance our local and provincial economy through

tourism. There is tremendous potential," Louis Riel Trail Association

Chair Don Wilkins said.



"Congratulations to all of those involved in making the Louis Riel Trail a

reality," Tourism Saskatchewan President and CEO Roy Anderson said. "The

Métis story is a rich and colourful one, critical to the knowledge and

understanding of our history, and of great interest to the traveller

seeking unique and enriching tourism experiences. The designation of the

Louis Riel Trail is an excellent example of a partnership formed to ensure

that this fundamental Saskatchewan story is told."



A ceremony to officially announce the naming of Louis Riel Trail was held

today at the Duck Lake Regional Interpretive Centre. A unique Louis Riel

Trail sign featuring the Red River cart was unveiled.



"Just over a century ago, the Red River carts of Métis hunters, traders,

and pioneer families came across the Saskatchewan prairie playing a

significant role in western Canadian transportation and the development of

this province. The image of the cart serves as a worthy symbol and

historical perspective of that time period," Atkinson said.



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For more information, contact:



John Charlton Don Wilkins

Highways and Transportation Louis Riel Trail Association

Regina Girvin

Phone: (306) 787-4805 Phone: (306) 567-4360