Métis youth across the country asked to document what it means to be Métis

Janelle and Jérémie Wookey, a brother-sister Franco-Métis filmmaking team, are hoping to receive 100 video submissions in 100 days from Métis youth across the country that will document what it means to be Métis. The videos will be part of a project called 100métis.ca.
Seven years ago, Janelle put her family on screen to tell the story of the last three generations of the Red River Métis: the hidden (her grandmother’s generation), the lost (her mother’s), and the found (Janelle’s generation).

It was part of a “cultural awakening” sparked by the now late Augustine Abraham. The matriarch of Manitoba’s Métis community and great-niece of Louis Riel, left an important message for the ‘found’ generation, declaring it would be up to them to keep the spirit of the Métis alive.

She asked that they “dig deep” and “do something bigger” so that a very important past may not be forgotten, reads a press statement from the Wookeys.

Janelle created 100métis.ca in answer to that call.  It’s an innovative online archive of Métis past and present, where the ‘found’ generation of Métis can unite and learn to define who they are in the world. An accompanying film directed by Jérémie follows Janelle as she works to discover the realities and challenges faced by today’s ‘found’ generation of Métis.

“It’s important for me to undertake this project because I believe there is a population of young Métis in my generation feeling conflicted about their heritage,” said Janelle. “Ten years ago, our first film Memere Métisse contributed to the conversation about the taboo of revealing Métis ancestry among my grandmother's generation.
Through 100métis.ca, we hope to create a platform to again ignite a conversation that will help orient young Métis people to move forward in a united, confident way.”

Janelle and Jérémie are soliciting video submissions – 100 videos in 100 days from 100 youth – to create a portrait of who the Métis are, where they are at, and where they are going. So if you are Métis, they want your story! Find out more at www.100métis.ca.C