Donny Parenteau. (Submitted photo/Donny Parenteau)

By Ian Gustafson

Cultural event

Event highlighting Métis culture returning to Prince Albert in May

Apr 27, 2022 | 4:00 PM

A celebration of Métis culture and history is coming to Prince Albert next week.

On May 4 and 5, the EA Rawlinson Centre for the Arts is hosting the second Donny Parenteau’s Colours of the Sash educational expo and music showcase.

Organizer Donny Parenteau said this year’s event is a continuation of what they started in 2019. On May 4 Parenteau said eight school groups will be coming to the EA Rawlinson Centre where there will be displays of Métis culture.

This includes mini voyageur games, presentations on fur, talking about trapping, animal tracking and food. The day will wrap up with a mini concert by Parenteau. He added he’s able to put on this event thanks Karon Shmon and the Gabriel Dumont Institute, who are major sponsors.

He explained around four years ago school divisions started bringing the Métis culture into classrooms and teaching the next generation about it. Once they did that Parenteau said he wanted to enhance it even more by putting on this event.

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“They can come in and really talk about this and, like I said, discussing the furs, trapping, actually see furs and feel them and just to be part of that. We just have some great presenters and of course they’re going to have some fun with the voyageurs game because it’s just all the games the Métis have played through all the years going back many years ago,” he said.

(Submitted photo/Donny Parenteau)

He added it’s important to showcase Métis culture because it’s nice to know where you came from before you move forward.

“If you’re Métis in culture, know what that Métis culture is about, know that history and this gives them a really good opportunity to come in and learn about the history and what it’s like in the Métis culture,” he said.

The first day is not open to the public but on May 5 they’re welcome to the EA Rawlinson Centre which will showcase Métis artists. Some of those performing and joining Parenteau on stage include the North Sound, Roland Corrigal, Jersey Lamotte, Parenteau’s daughter Julianna Parenteau, Brian Sklar, and Freddie and Sheila Pelletier.

People will hear music from the culture back when it started with the fiddles all the way to pop music.

“What I’m very proud of is what I explain with Métis music, it comes from the person,” Parenteau said. “If you are Métis and a Métis singer, Métis songwriter, that Métis culture comes out of you whether you like it or not, it comes out. And this gives you a good opportunity to hear what those singers and what those people feel the way they play and how they play.”

Those who want to attend the show on May 5 can purchase tickets on the EA Rawlinson Centres website.

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Ian.Gustafson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @IanGustafson12