What:  Fifth Annual Louis Riel Day Celebration, a Festival of Métis Culture
When:  Taking place over two days: Saturday, November 13 & Sunday, November 14
Where:  The Cultch (1895 Venables) on November 13 and the WISE Hall (1882 Adanac Street) on November 14
How: Tickets are $15.00 for each event or $25.00 for both. Special family and friends deal: buy four tickets and get one free, Tickets available for purchase in advance from www.vnidansi.ca
Who: Compaigni V’ni Dansi, For more information: www.vnidansi.ca or call 604.873.6373

Compaigni V’ni Dansi invites Vancouver to celebrate the life of Louis Riel, the Canadian folk hero, with the fifth annual Louis Riel Day Celebration, a festival of Métis Dance, Music and Culture. Taking place over two days, this year’s Festival will also feature a special Métis dinner and dance on Sunday 14 November at the WISE Hall to which everyone is invited.

In addition to honouring Louis Riel, the Festival is a chance to celebrate the vitality of contemporary Métis culture both locally and across Canada. Festivities begin on November 13 at the Cultch with an exciting line up of contemporary and traditional Métis artists. The evening will be hosted by Winston Wuttunee, one of Canada’s premiere aboriginal performers with special guests Métis fiddle master John Arcand accompanied on guitar by his wife Vicki Arcand. Other performers include acclaimed poet and writer Greg Scofield and rising traditional dance star Madeleine McCallum. Jules Chartrand, Métis historian from St Laurent will provide the opening prayer. Led by master jigger Yvonne Chartrand, the Louis Riel Métis Dancers will once again provide energy and heart with their traditional Métis jigging.

The next night, the Celebration takes over the WISE Hall with a communal dinner and dance including live music by our special guests John and Vicki Arcand .Delicious, traditional Métis fare will be served along with performances and a chance for the whole community to join in to dance and celebrate.

In addition, during the day on November 13, John Arcand will offer special fiddle workshops. For more information on this rare opportunity to work with a fiddle master please contact Compaigni V'ni Dansi directly.

Yvonne Chartrand from Compaigni V’ni Dansi said about this year’s Celebration: “I can’t believe we’re already at five years. We are so excited that this year, in addition to our exciting line up of performers on Saturday night, we are also going to have communal dinner and dance on Sunday. This event at the WISE Hall will be a true celebration of our community and one that we want to invite the whole city to. It is a Celebration for everyone as well as being a reflection of the unique cultural heritage of the Métis: a blending of French, Scottish, Irish, English, Scandinavian and First Nations.”

Compaigni V’ni Dansi is the only company in Canada dedicated to teaching and performing traditional and contemporary Métis dance, creating a unique form of expression. The company shares Métis stories and culture with Aboriginal and mainstream audiences with a special interest in passing our dances on to today’s youth. Our mission is to create a repertoire of work that reflects Métis culture. We also seek out contemporary dance and artistic collaborations that bring new light and understanding to these traditions.