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I would like to tell you about a new project that the Oshawa Métis Council is undertaking.The members of our Council have always supported various cultural activities, and we've come a long way in the last couple years in terms of building a better understanding and pride in our history and heritage. One of the things that was missing - and something that I've always felt personally was very important - was teaching the traditional Métis dances to our youth and adult people. This is something you see with so many other ethnic groups, and with the amazing dances that we have within our own culture it was long overdue that we put the wheels in motion to bring this to life.
To get us started we have found an amazing Métis Dance teacher, Yvonne Chartrand (scroll down for bio) who was contracted to come out to the Durham region and spent four concentrated days teaching our interested youth and adult people a number of Métis Dances.
At the same time we have found almost a dozen young Métis people - from 7 to 18 years of age - who are excited to learn! The dancers performed for their first time at our second annual "Métis Heritage Celebration" which was held on June 28, 2008. And once the word is out that Oshawa has a dance troupe, there will undoubtedly be many other opportunities for these young people to travel, perform and represent the Métis people. The troupe is called the "Olivine Bousquet (Tiedema) Métis Dance Troupe" in honour of our very special Elder who has done so much to start and sustain the Oshawa Métis Council for the Durham region.
Olivine Bousquet Dancers performing at 3rd Annual Metis Heritage Celebration at Memorial Park, Oshawa on June 28, 2009.
Olivine Bousquet Dancers performing with fiddler Alicia Blore and guitarist Charlie Fife at OMC 4th Annual Potluck Jan.10,2009 at Camp Samac in Oshawa
Olivine Bousquet Dancers Melissa and Brittney Freestyling to the Red River Jig played by fiddler Alicia Blore and guitarist Charlie Fife at OMC 4th Annual Potluck Jan.10,2009 at Camp Samac in Oshawa
Olivine Bousquet Métis Dancers
Oshawa Métis Council (OMC)
BIOGRAPHY
The Olivine Bousquet Métis Dancers have been dancing together since April 2008. Following a four-day workshop at Camp Samac, Oshawa, with invited Canadian award-winning Métis jigger, Yvonne Chartrand from British Columbia, we formed our dance troupe with seven children and six adults. We now have 17 members ranging in age from 7 years to 60 years. We performed for the first time at our own 2nd Annual Métis Heritage Celebration in June 2008. Then, from July 2008 to January 2009, we performed at the following events:
Métis Arts Festival, Black Creek Pioneer Village, Toronto
Métis Rendezvous, Lafontaine
Drum Making Workshop and Meet and Greet, OMC
Blue Water District School Board of Education, Owen Sound
CIBC Aboriginal Volunteers Reception, Toronto
Métis Nation of Ontario Annual General Assembly, Toronto
“Spirit Calling Youth Workshop”, DDSB, Scugog Island First Nation Reserve
Memorial Service for OMC Councillor Ewen Moreau
Fourth Annual Holiday Pot Luck Gathering, OMC
Cannington Dog Sled Races, February 21-22, Cannington
Aboriginal Education Teachers Symposium, DDSB, May 6, Whitby
Aboriginal Festival, G.L. Roberts CVI, DDSB, May 14, Oshawa
Aboriginal Gathering, June 6, Brampton
Third Annual Métis Heritage Celebration, June 27-28, OMC
Métis Days, Discovery Bay, August 8, Penetanguishene
The Olivine Bousquet Métis Dancers have instilled/raised the level of Métis pride in themselves and in all the Métis who have seen them perform. They are terrific ambassadors of the Métis Nation to everyone they meet. We are extremely proud of our Métis dance troupe.
Suggested honorarium: $70.00 per dancer and .40¢/km per vehicle
Yvonne Chartrand is a Métis whose ancestors come from St. Laurent , Manitoba. She began her dance career in Winnipeg performing with a traditional Métis dance group called The Gabriel Dumont Dancers in 1986. At the same time while majoring in painting with the Fine Arts Program at the University of Manitoba, Yvonne also began her career in contemporary dance. Yvonne has trained with contemporary dance in Winnipeg, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, New York and The Banff Centre for The Arts. She graduated from Main Dance Place in Vancouver, with the Apprenticeship Program in 1998, apprenticing with The Karen Jamieson Dance Company. She has since worked with Choreographers Lee-Ann Smith, Paula Ross, Katherine Labelle, Anna Storoszczuk M.F.A., Yukio Waguri, Helen Walkley, Georgina Martinez, Michelle Olson and Denise Lonewalker, Robin Poitras. She was a founder of Raven Spirit Dance Company. She attended The Aboriginal Dance Project at The Banff Centre of The Arts for 2001 and 2002. She worked with Margo Kane’s Production “Confessions of an Indian Cowboy” teaching Métis dance during intermission and trained for three years with the Full Circle Ensemble, as part of Margo Kane’s Company, Full Circle: First Nations Performance, which included a production of “The River Home” for The Talking Stick Festival, 2005.
Yvonne is Artistic Director of Compaigni V’ni Dansi (translates, Come and Dance in Mitchif) in Vancouver since 2000, which includes traditional Métis and contemporary dance. Yvonne is presently dancing, choreographing and teaching. She has created a solo called “Marguerite” to honour the Métis Women and the life of Marguerite Monet dit Bellemeur, the wife of the great Métis leader Louis Riel, with many Thanks to a grant from the First People's Cultural Foundation. In 2003, Yvonne’s Compaigni V’ni Dansi received their first production grant from the Canada Council for the Arts for a collaborated choreography with Butoh master Yukio Waguri, on a dance production called “A Poet And Prophet” honouring Louis David Riel inspired by his poetry and visions. For 2004 the company collaborated with Maria Campbell for research to create their second production called “Gabriel’s Crossing”, which was remounted as an Artist and Community Collaboration working with six youth and touring throughout BC for ArtStarts in Schools. The company has produced a dance trilogy called “The Crossing” inspired from these past works, touring to Saskatoon and in Vancouver celebrating Louis Riel Day. An artist and community collaboration in Saskatoon was inspired from this work including performances for the month of July 2007 at the Batoche National Historical Site of Canada.
The Company’s traditional Métis dance group is called the Louis Riel Métis Dancers. The group has performed in many cultural gatherings and festivals. Yvonne created the group in 2000 and has trained many dancers since. The group had the pleasure to perform for many such events as The Vancouver International Children’s Festival, Festival du Bois with John and Vicky Arcand, The Heart of The City Festival and all of Compaigni V’ni Dansi ’s productions and many Aboriginal Day Festivals.
Yvonne facilitates many Métis Dance workshops locally, provincially and nationally focusing on youth and community. Yvonne began teaching Métis traditional dance for the community, with Winston Wuttonee’s Band Shagonapi, which began at The Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre in 2001. Yvonne was the teacher for a children and youth Métis dance group called “Mooshum’s Little Métis Jiggers”, created in collaboration with Métis Family Services, and Métis Elder Bob Kelly for 2004-2005. Yvonne taught a new group formed for Métis Family Services called the “West Coast Métis Jiggers” in 2005-2006 and has past this opportunity on to her mentoring students. The children and youth are performing locally and provincially. Yvonne has created ten new Métis dance groups in BC thanks to First Peoples Heritage Language and Culture Council.
Yvonne is on the organizing committee for an International festival called the Pacific West Performing Arts Festival of Burnaby where they are the first to create an Aboriginal category including Métis dance. Yvonne is a board member for IPAA, Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance. Yvonne was awarded Women’s First Place for “The Canadian Traditional Red River Jigging Championship”, at The John Arcand Fiddle Fest 2005-07 and Overall Grand Champion for 2007 at Windy Acres Ranch outside of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. In 2005 she received Women’ s First in the “Western Canadian Métis Red River Jig Championship” for Métis Fest by The Edmonton Métis Cultural Dance Society. She also received First place for Most Traditional Dancer at Back To Batoche Days 2007. Yvonne is working on a new creation work and plans another BC Métis Dance Tour…
Professional Contemporary Dance and Performing Artist:
2007 Dancer/Choreographer for Compaigni V’ni Dansi, The Crossing, Batoche Histirical Museum, Saskatchewan
2007 Dancer/Choreographer for Compaigni V’ni Dansi, Gabriel’s Crossing, Surrey
2007 Dancer/Choreographer for Compaigni Vni Dansi, Marguerite, Talking Stick Festival, Vancouver
2006 Dancer/Choreographer for Compaigni V’ni Dansi, Production of “The Crossing”, Saskatoon, Vancouver
2006 Dancer/Choreographer for Compaigni V’ni Dansi Works in progress dance trilogy, “The Crossing”
2006 Dancer/Choreographer for Compaigni V’ni Dansi, Marguerite for The Talking Stick Festival
2005 Performer for Still In Motion Dance, The Raven Series
2005 Performer for Full Circle Ensemble, The River Home
2004 Dancer/Choreographer for Compaigni V’ni Dansi, Production of Gabriel’s Crossing, Hastings Dance
2004 Dancer/Choreographer for Compaigni V’ni Dansi, Gabriel’s Crossing, The Powell Street Festival
2003 Dancer/Choreographer for Compaigni V’ni Dansi, Production of A Poet and Prophet
2003 Dancer/Choreographer for Compaigni V’ni Dansi, The Powell Street Festival
2003 Dancer, Artstart Tour, Raven Spirit Dance Company
2002 Dancer/Choreographer for International Aboriginal Festival, Compaigni V’ni Dansi
2002 Dancer, for Aboriginal Dance Program, Banff Centre for The Arts
2001 Dancer/Choreographer for First Annual B.C. Metis Showcase, Compaigni V’ni Dansi
2001 Dancer, for Aboriginal Dance Program, Banff Centre for The Arts
2001 Dancer for First National Aboriginal Dance Symposium, Raven Spirit Dance Company
2001 Dancer for Helen Walkley Dance Project
2000 Dancer/Choreographer for Burnaby Mental Health Association, Compaigni V’ni Dansi
2000 Dancer/Choreographer for B.C. Aboriginal Language Day Festival
2000 Dancer/Choreographer for Aboriginal Arts and Culture Celebration Society Fundraiser
2000 Dancer/Choreographer for Aboriginal Day Performance
2000 Dancer for Paula Ross Dance Society. Performance for the B.C. Schizophrenia Society
1999 Dancer for Lacrimosa Dance Performance
1999 Dance apprenticeship with Katherine Labelle Dance; Sophia
1998 Dancer for Plan B, Shared Works: Lee Ann Smith
1998 Dancer for Paula Ross Dance Society. Celebration and Collaboration
1998 Dancer, in Moonlight Odyssey Performance
1998 Dancer/Choreographer for Late Night Kiss Project
1997 Dancer for Late Night Kiss Project
Selected Metis Traditional Dance Performances:
2007 Old Tteaty Days Festival, Minnesota , USA
2004/07 John Arcand Fiddle Fest
2007 Saskatoon Inn, Saskatchewan
2007 Aboriginal Music Festival, Prince Albert , Saskatchewan
2007 New Works-Dance Allsorts, Vancouver
2007 Talking Stick Festival, Vancouver
2006 Dreamcatcher Conference, Edmonton, Alberta
2006 Centre for Indigenous Theatre, Toronto, Ontario
2006 St.Laurent Metis Days, Manitoba
2006 SNTC, Saskatchewan
2006 The World Urban Forum, Vancouver
2006 Aboriginal Arts and Culture Celebration Society, Vancouver Art Gallery
2006 The Vancouver International Children’s Festival
2006 Heart of The City Festival, Vancouver
2006 Festival Du Bois, Co-Quitlam
2005 Metis Dancer for Saskatchewan Native Theatres, Louis Riel Celebrations
2005 Heart of The City Festival, Vancouver
2005 Canada Day Celebrations, Canada Place, Vancouver
2005 Aboriginal Arts and Culture Celebration Society, Vancouver Art Gallery
2005 Carol James Opening NDP Event, Surrey, BC
2005 Red River West Fundraiser, Vancouver Island, BC
2005 Flora Wallace Memorial, Mount Currie, B.C.
2004 Fraser Valley Metis Harvest Dance, Abbotsford, BC
2004 Simon Fraser University, Aboriginal Graduation Ceremony, Burnaby,BC
2004 Aboriginal Arts and Culture Celebration Society, Vancouver Art Galley
2004 The Vancouver International Children’s Festival
2004 The 6th Annual Strathcona Festival
2004 The Talking Stick Festival, Full Circle: First Nations Performance
2004 B.C. Centre for Focusing; Graduation Ceremony, 1st Nations House of Learning
2003 First Nations House of Learning, Healing With Our Elder’s Teachings in Honouring Metis Culture
2003 Surrey Aboriginal Centre, Grand Opening Gala
2003 Aboriginal Day, Aboriginal Arts and Culture Celebration Society, Vancouver Art Galley
2003 The Vancouver International Children’s Festival
2002 14th North American Native Arts and Crafts Festival
2002 Metis Dancer, Teacher for Confessions of an Indian Cowboy, Full Circle: First Nations Performance
2002 Aboriginal Aids Awareness Day
2002 Gala Event, Surrey Aboriginal Centre Fundraiser
2002 University College of Fraser Valley, Advisory Committee
2002 Metis Family Services, Louis Riel Day,
2002 International Aboriginal Festival; Plaza of Nations/ Chinese Cultural Centre/ Vancouver Friendship Centre
2002 Mitchif Metis Museum’s Metis Youth Camp
2002 Sea Festival, Prince Rupert
2002 Aboriginal Day; United Native Nations/ Aboriginal Arts and Culture Celebration Society/ V.F.C.
2002 Cloverdale Rodeo Days, Native Pavillion
2002 Salmon Arm Metis Days
2002 Metis Youth Conference, Cranbrook, B.C.
2002 Metis Youth Conference, Duncan, B. C.
2002 United Native Nations, Anti Racism, Anti-Referendum Event
2002 National Metis Youth Conference, Georgia Hotel, Vancouver, B.C.
2000 Burnaby Mental Health Association
2000 New West Multi-Cultural Festival
2000 Mission Prison
2000 Cloverdale Rodeo Days, Native Pavilion
Teaching Experience:
2003-2007 Contemporary Dance Classes, Vancouver, Saskatoon
2002-2007 Traditional Metis Dance Workshops throughout B.C. and Canada
2002-2007 Traditional Metis Dance; The Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre-Metis Family Services
2002-2003 The Mitchif Museum, Surrey
1993-1998 Society for Body Strengthening. Teaching group and private lessons
1996-1998 Soma Therapy; Teaching private movement therapy lessons
1990-1992 International School for Dance Education and Body Management Inc.,
Education:
2002-2005 Full Circle: First Nations Performance Ensemble Training
2001-2002 Banff Centre for The Arts, Aboriginal Dance Training Project
1995-1998 Main Dance Professional Training Program
1990-1992 International School for Dance Education and Body Management Inc. Apprenticeship/Teacher
1986-1988 Contemporary Dance Summer Schools: Winnipeg, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal
1988-1989 Toronto Dance Theatre,
1986-1987 Winnipeg Contemporary Dance Junior Professional Program
1983-1987 University of Manitoba, Fine Arts Program
Awards:
2007 Overall Grand Champion, Canadian Red River Jigging Championships, John Arcand Fiddle Fest
2007 First place. Most Traditional Dancer, Batoche Days, Saskatchewan
2006/07 Second Place, Womens Batoche Days
2005 First Place, Womens The Western Canadian Metis Red River Jig Championship, Edmonton, Alberta
2005/06/07 First Place, Womens. The Canadian Red River Jigging Championship, John Arcand Fiddle Fest, Sask.
2004-2007 Canada Council for The Arts, Aboriginal Dance Annual Support for Compaigni V’ni Dansi
2003 Canada Council for The Arts, Aboriginal Dance Production Grant for Compaigni V’ni Dansi
2000 First Peoples Cultural Foundation
1997 Metis Provincial Council of B.C. Tuition for third year Main Dance PTP
1995 Anonymous Donation. Tuition for first year Main Dance PTP
1991 Spotlight VIII Productions; Dance Distinction Award
Actor Training:
2002-2005 Source and Impulse Work By David MacMurray-Smith, Full Circle Ensemble
2004 Workshop with Muriel Miguel from Spider Woman Theatre Company/New York USA
2004 Workshop with Keith Johnston, England
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