Métis New Year Tradition Rings Out Across Sault Ste. Marie
- Huron Superior Métis Community
- Jan 2
- 1 min read
As the clock struck midnight welcoming the New Year, a sound rooted in generations of Métis tradition rang out across Sault Ste. Marie: the bell in the tower of the Sault Ste. Marie Métis Heritage Centre.
The ringing of the bell, a custom long practiced in Métis communities and revived in Sault Ste. Marie over the past several years, once again marked the turning of the year. As its clear tones echoed through the city, nearby fireworks lit up the neighborhood, blending traditions of the past, with those of the present.
For Métis citizens, the ringing of the New Year bell is more than a countdown—it is a living connection to ancestors who marked time, gathered community, and welcomed new beginnings in the same way. Its revival has become a meaningful annual moment, reminding listeners of the enduring presence and resilience of Métis culture in the city.
The Historic Sault Ste. Marie Métis Council extended thanks to Councilor Figures and Regional Councilor Case for their efforts in keeping the tradition alive and ensuring it continues to be shared with the wider community.
In a message of goodwill, the Historic Sault Ste. Marie Métis Council wished all citizens, friends, and neighbors a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year, as the echoes of the bell carried hope and unity into the year ahead.
