Jamie Dupuis (Submitted photo).When Jamie Dupuis received his Métis Nations of Ontario (MNO) citizenship card, his family held a special celebration, welcoming him as an MNO citizen and presenting him with a Métis sash.
“I am very proud (I did this) now, since it is part of my family history,” he shared in an interview. Several of Dupuis’s paternal relatives are active with the MNO Temiskaming Métis Council, including his uncle Claude Dupuis.
With the MNO’s active participation in the Aboriginal Pavilion at the 2015 Pan AM and Parapan AM games, Dupuis was asked to perform during the Aboriginal Pavilion’s opening night as a representative of the MNO and the Métis community.
He accepted.
It was his first time performing in Toronto and to be showcased at the opening night as well as to represent Métis culture at the Aboriginal Pavilion were both opportunities Dupuis couldn’t miss.
“Being a part of the whole show, with so much talent in the Aboriginal culture…it was amazing,” he shared in an interview.
Dupuis has recorded two albums so far. His latest album, Elements, is made up entirely of music he composed himself.
For the Aboriginal Pavilion, Dupuis composed a special piece just for his performance on opening night. The song, titled Chasing A Dream, was played on the harp guitar.
“I tried to put in as much intensity as I could,” he said.
Born in New Liskeard, Dupuis has studied under renowned guitarist Philip Candelaria at Cambrian College in Sudbury.
He went on to win first place among 1,000 competitors in the Full Ride Scholarship 2011 competition. It took him all the way to Hollywood, California, were he graduated with an Associates’ Degree from the Musicians Institute.
Dupuis has released two albums, the first in 2011 titled Inspired by a Dream.
Many of his compositions as well as covers of other songs can be found on his YouTube channel or purchased on iTunes.
To read more about the Aboriginal Pavilion’s Opening Night and Jamie Dupuis, visit this article.