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V'ni Dansi

Louis Riel Day Celebration

Louis Riel Day Celebration

Thank you to everyone who attended the 18th Annual Louis Riel Day Celebration! The event was an absolute success and we feel incredibly lucky to be nearing our 20 year anniversary. It would not have been possible without all of your support.

We’d also like to thank our sponsors:

  • Canada Council for the Arts
  • Government of Canada
  • British Columbia Arts Council
  • Province of BC
  • City of Vancouver

Thank you for promoting Métis dance and culture! We look forward to seeing you at our next Louis Riel Day Celebration on Saturday, November 16, 2024.
 


We're very proud to announce that V'ni Dansi will once again be returning for the 18th annual Louis Riel Day celebration! Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 11 at 7 p.m. at the Annex Theatre. Join us for an event filled with dance, culture and fun for the whole family.

We are very fortunate to have the the honour of welcoming Métis fiddler Mark Morisseau and musician Debbie Houle as our guest artists for the night! Be sure to come down and help us in celebrating the history of the great Métis leader of the Red River Resistance. 

Debbie Houle is Metis from the Elizabeth Metis Settlement in Northeast Alberta.  She has been living and working in Edmonton’s Indigenous community for over 30 years. She is the mother to two: her son Darren who is 25, and her daughter Bethany who is 34. Having grown up with music and singing, it didn’t take her long after moving to Edmonton to find other like-minded women who wanted to share their stories through song. In 1997, she, along with four other women: Sherryl Sewepagaham, Donita Large, Laura Langstaff and Cathy Sewell formed the group, Asani. They retired in 2019 after 22 years of performing, two recorded CDs one of which won them a Juno nomination and a Canadian Folk Music Award. After the group retired, Debbie began her writing journey to tell the story of her home, the Metis Settlements, and the history of her family. 

Mark Morisseau is one of the finest fiddlers around today.  At the early age of 7 his family’s musical heritage inspired his interest in music.  A multi-instrumentalist, Mark has had the opportunity to perform with many well-respected artists across the country. Mark has appeared on the TV series “The Sharing Circle” and “The Mix”.  His music was featured on Ray St. Germain’s nationally aired “Rhythm of the Metis” series.  Mark’s love of music was also showcased in the award-winning television documentary “How the Fiddle Flows”. 

For over 25 years now, Mark has been a part of the fiddle world in Manitoba, playing in multiple bands including the country chart-topping Doc Walker.  Since then, he found his way into teaching, and created the Prairie Fiddlers, which has become a cultural Metis staple. Many of his students have been recognized across the country receiving numerous invitations to record and perform their music.  He has taught the likes of Sierra Noble (International awarded television and stage performer), The Gaudry Boys (2010 Best Fiddle Album Nominee, Aboriginal Peoples Choice Awards), Brad Moggie (2010 Fiddle Album of the Year, Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards) among many others in the industry today. Numerous students have received opportunities from performing for political dignitaries, welcoming the Queen, taking part in the Olympic Game Ceremonies, to being the opening act for major recording artists.  Mark received an invite to the Grand Masters in Ottawa after numerous accolades in and out of his province.

 

 

Buy Tickets
 

 

If you have any questions, please send us an email at md@vnidansi.ca.

 


 

Louis Riel Day is generously supported by:

  • Canada Council for the Arts
  • Canadian Heritage
  • BC Arts Council
  • BC Gaming
  • City of Vancouver
  • Hamber Foundation
  • BC Métis Federation

 

Photos by Chris Randle

 

 

 

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V'ni Dansi
Métis Traditional & Contemporary Dance
PO Box 95071 Kingsgate
Vancouver, BC V5T 4T8

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