Métis dance used as a method of storytelling

The 3rd Annual Louis Riel Day Celebration hosted by Vni Dansi took place at The Roundhouse in Vancouver on Nov. 15.
Over 175 people ranging from children to Elders were present to enjoy an evening of festivities including dance, music and oral tradition from the rich culture of Métis heritage.
Comedian and musician, Winston Wuttunee emceed the evening with special guest Jules Chartrand a Métis historian from St. Laurent Manitoba.
Métis poet Greg Scofield recited his poetry and two solo dances were performed by Vni Dansi's own Yvonne Chartrand and Madelaine McCallum.
The night was complete with storytelling by Wuttunee and an acoustic performance by Juno award winner Wayne Lavalee.
To the music of a live band comprised of fiddle, guitar and keyboard, the Louis Riel Métis Dancers of Vni Dansi performed a traditional dance and the evening ended with a Red River jig that the audience was invited to join in on stage.
Vni Dansi is a company in Vancouver formed in 2000 by Yvonne Chartrand, Métis dancer and teacher. Chartrand is dedicated to teaching and performing Métis dance.
She has keenly recognized the need to preserve Métis cultural dance and the celebration of it and is focused on passing the teachings to Aboriginal youth in many communities.
Vni Dansi provides more than 100 workshops to communities in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario. The workshops are intensive using traditional Métis perspectives and incorporating them with what Yvonne has learned from Elders over the years.
Vni Dansi also offers regular classes taught by an experienced teacher in a welcoming and fun atmosphere, which is a great way to meet new people and to stay active.
In 2001, Yvonne began the Louis Riel Métis Dancers, a professional dance ensemble that is trained extensively in Métis dance and performs regularly across B.C.
Two young dancers that are a part of the Louis Riel group are Jordan Crowell and Kehew McCallum, both 14 years old. They are proof that culture lives through the youth and are considered as role models for other young Métis people.
McCallum is originally from Maple Ridge. She said she is fortunate to have an older sister Madelaine who is gaining a lot of recognition as a Métis dancer and is someone that she can learn from. She said they both inherited the love of Métis dance from their dad.
McCallum has been dancing with the group for two years and has gained knowledge of every Métis dance from the broom dance to the red river jig.
"I love it, it's fun and it gives me a chance to meet new people," said McCallum adding that she plans to continue dancing and to stay involved in as many Métis gatherings in her community and across Canada.
Crowell and McCallum were paired together a couple years ago.
Crowell also has a great appreciation of his Métis culture and loves to dance because "it is something that I'm good at and it is really accepted in my community."
Considering that this is only the third celebration of its kind in Vancouver, Crowell has recognized how Métis culture and celebration is gaining mainstream attention in B.C. and is happy to be a part of it.
His love of dance has been passed down through his entire family and he has been honoured to train extensively with mentor and teacher Yvonne Chartrand.
Traditional Métis dance is a blend of Irish, Scottish, French and Scandinavian reels and waltzes combined with First Nation dances, and is considered one of the most complicated dances of all First Nations.
As with all other First Nations, Métis people have a belief in their kinship to the earth and animals. Their dance is a reflection of this celebration and is a way to express certain times of the year such as spring or harvest.
Traditionally, communities would gather for large rendezvous with dances throughout the night. Many Métis people have memories of kitchen parties where dancing and music filled the house until the wee hours of morning.
Children learned from their family and friends how to, not only dance every dance, but to make new steps and combine steps in new ways.
The types of dance have a way of telling a story and that is how contemporary Métis dance uses traditional moves to tell stories of Métis history. Through companies like Vni Dansi, this method of storytelling will continue as long as Vni Dansi does.