Louis Riel sword recovered at festival

A missing sword believed to have belonged to the famous Métis leader Louis Riel has been found.

The century-old sword that disappeared Wednesday during the Back to Batoche festival in Saskatchewan was recovered Sunday by a security company working at the festival.

Robert Doucette of the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan said the artifact was turned in by a man from the nearby One Arrow First Nation.

"You know when a cultural item like that goes missing, it's irreplaceable. And when it comes home, it comes home to the relief and the gratitude of all people of that nation," Doucette said.

A $500 reward for the return of the sword had been offered, but Doucette said it hasn't been decided if it will be paid out.

'Two kids were sword-fighting with it. They had no idea what they were fighting with.' —Gaylene Poulin, Back to Batoche spokeswoman

Festival spokeswoman Gaylene Poulin said that a couple of kids had been found playing with the sword at the Batoche rodeo grounds.

"Two kids were sword-fighting with it. They had no idea what they were fighting with," Poulin said.

"We don't know who took it but we're glad it was found."

'Felt like we had just lost Riel again'

The brass-handled sword with the initials L.R. stamped into it was one of several items brought to Batoche by Henry Hall, the former Métis Nation of British Columbia's regional director, who has been collecting Louis Riel artifacts for 18 years.

It had been on display at a table hosted by a Métis delegation from British Columbia.

Hall said he was devastated when he was told the sword was gone.

"To have it stolen from there, to me it felt like we had just lost Riel again," he said in an interview with CBC News.

He was vacationing in Petersfield, Man., at the time and left the sword and other Riel artifacts at Batoche with another person.

Hall, who considers himself "the keeper" of the sword, not the owner, said the near-loss won't change his mind about displaying the item in the future.

"I trust people to no end. All that this is is another story to add to the journey of Mr. Riel's belongings," he said.

When the sword was recovered, Doucette immediately wrapped it in a traditional Métis sash. He took to the festival stage and invited Bruce Dumont, the current Métis Nation of British Columbia president, to join him.

"We hugged each other and all the Métis, First Nations and non-aboriginal people who were there cheered," Doucette said.

Annual celebration

"It's just another icing on the cake to a great, great eight days out here at Batoche."

The festival is an annual celebration of Métis culture held near the site of the 1885 showdown between the Canadian army and Métis and aboriginal fighters, who were led by Riel.

The Métis were defeated and Riel was found guilty of high treason and hanged in Regina.

He is considered the greatest leader of the Métis as well as the founding father of Manitoba. The province has a holiday named for him.

Dumont didn't know what was happening when Doucette called him to the stage and unwrapped the sash.

"People were coming up and saying, 'Can I touch it and can I look at it?' At that time I didn't even want to let go of it," Dumont said.

"We very much appreciate it being returned in good condition with no damage," he added.