The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) Summer Youth Cultural Program (SYCP) staff have already been very busy this summer! After completing a week-long training in Thunder Bay at the end of May, these Métis youth have taken their knowledge of Métis history, culture and way-of-life back to their local communities. Some of the activities the SYCP staff demonstrates at these community functions include: Métis jigging and fiddling; dot art; Métis Voyageur games, and more! Below are a sampling of some of the activities so far:

Ottawa_Riverstone Retirement Community
On August 11, 2016, the MNO SYCP Ottawa staff visited the Riverstone Retirement Community in Carlingwood and performed a Métis jig for residents.

Kettle Lakes Provincial Park_Timmins
On August 19, 2016, Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) Summer Youth Cultural Program (SYCP) staff from Timmins attended the Kettle Lakes Provincial Park Natural Heritage Education Summer Program. At the event, SYCP staff educated visitors on Métis history and culture and led many different activities and games. In this picture, Valerie Labelle-Savard, SYCP Facilitator (left) and Breton Burke, SYCP Lead (right) perform a Métis jig for guests. (Photo source: @KettleLakesPP, Twitter)

Teddy Bear Picnic_Sault Ste. Marie
This past July, the Sault Ste. Marie MNO SYCP staff engaged participants at the Teddy Bear Picnic with traditional and modern Métis songs. (L-R) SYCP staff at the picnic: Courtney Vaughan, Facilitator; Warren McFadden, Facilitator; Riley Smith, Lead; Abby Denning, Facilitator; Sarah Bibeau, Lead; and, Julia Simon, Facilitator.

Midland_Wendat Seniors' Residence

Midland’s MNO SYCP staff recently had the pleasure of visiting the Wendat Seniors’ Residence where they taught residents about Métis beadwork and led a dot art activity inspired by the work of Christi Belcourt. They also performed some of their favourite Métis dances and even taught Wendat staff members a few moves!

2017 North American Indigenous Games

On Friday, July 15, 2016, MNO staff were invited to the official one-year countdown celebration to the 2017 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) to perform a Métis cultural dance. At the celebration, MNO staff posed for a picture with other performers: Simone Blais, SYCP Facilitator (back row, second from right); Alicia Blore, MNO Education Officer (back row, first from right); and, Joanna Burt, SYCP Lead (front row, first from right).

Timmins_Canada Day_July 1SYCP Facilitators Valerie Labelle-Savard (left) and Breton Burke (right) attended a local Canada Day event in Timmins, Ontario on July 1, 2016. The community showed a great interest in Métis culture and had some fun while learning about a historic Métis items.

Sainte Marie Among the Hurons_Aboriginal Day_June 21(L-R) MNO SYCP Facilitators Cassidy Eames and Karly Chapman and Lead Melissa St. Amant stand with Camden McColl (left) and Nathan McColl (right) at the Sainte Marie Among the Hurons Aboriginal Day celebration on June 21, 2016.

Ottawa_Summer Solstice Festival_June 18-19(L-R) Benny Michaud, MNO Ottawa Métis Council President, stands with MNO SYCP staff, Lead Jordyn Playne and Facilitators Janique Belcourt, Breanne Martin, and Tessa Hope during a Summer Solstice Festival at Vincent Massey Park in Ottawa on June 18-19, 2016.

Penetanguishene_Metis monument_June 10On June 10, 2016, SYCP Leads helped unveil a Métis monument that depicts an Indigenous woman and a European man at a special event at Rotary Champlain Wendat Park in Penetanguishene. (L-R) Former Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs Madeleine Meilleur, PCMNO Chair France Picotte, MNO Region 7 Captain of the Hunt Greg Garratt, MNO Summer Youth Cultural Program Lead Katelyn Lacroix, MNO Summer Youth Cultural Program Lead Melissa St. Amant, MNO Georgian Bay Métis Council President David Dusome, and Mayor of Penetanguishene Gerry Marshall.

Base Borden_Aboriginal Awareness_May 26On May 26, 2016, MNO SYCP staff participated at an Aboriginal Awareness Day event at the Base Borden Military Base. (L-R) SYCP Facilitator Cassidy Eames, SYCP Lead Melissa St. Amant, MNO Veterans’ Council President Joseph Paquette, Region 7 Captain of the Hunt and MNO Veterans’ Council Secretary Greg Garratt, SYCP Lead Katelyn LaCroix, and SYCP Facilitator Karly Chapman.

Ottawa_elementary school workshop(L-R) MNO SYCP Facilitators Janique Belcourt, Breanne Martin, and Tessa Hope lead a workshop at an elementary school in Ottawa.

Midland_elemntary school visitMNO SYCP staff visiting a local elementary school in Midland.

Updated on: September 9, 2016