Submitted by: Mitch Case, MNO Youth Council President and PCMNO Youth Representative
Many of our Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) youth are reclaiming their Métis culture, heritage and traditions. There is a beautiful old prophecy about this idea, which talks about young people walking along the trail of history and picking up the things that had been left along the way. Our great Métis leader Louis Riel spoke of a prophecy, which compliments this idea: “My people will sleep for one hundred years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who give them their spirit back”; today these prophecies are coming true.
Many MNO youth artists are involved in activities such as beading, painting, carving, sewing, leatherwork and music. Our people have stories that need to be told, and through their art our youth are finding creative ways to tell these stories.
Last year at the 2015 Annual General Assembly (AGA) in Midland, the Métis Nation of Ontario Youth Council (MNOYC) hosted a collaborative youth vendor table at the trade show. At this table, we were able to promote the work of eight young and talented artists and sold over one thousand dollars’ worth of beadwork, paintings, photographs and more.
As part of our commitment in continuing to promote the talent of our young MNO artists, the MNOYC will be hosting this initiative again at the 2016 AGA in North Bay.
All MNO youth are encouraged to participate by contributing their own pieces of artwork to the table. We are looking for anything from beadwork and sewing to photography and music and everything in between! Our hope is to showcase and promote the beautiful and creative artistry of our MNO youth. This year’s table will be managed by Sault Ste. Marie youth artist, Sammi Case.
We would not be able to support our MNO youth artists at the AGA if it were not for the generosity of our sponsors. We are fortunate to already have secured a sponsor for this year. Our sponsors last year were the owners of Gidley’s Galley restaurant: MNO Georgian Bay Métis Council Treasurer Heather Garratt and MNO Veterans’ Council Secretary and MNO Region 7 Captain of the Hunt Greg Garratt. Their generous sponsorship helped to cover the registration cost for the table.
Interested youth are encouraged to contact Sammi Case by email at samantha-case@outlook.com or by joining our Facebook conversation by searching ‘Métis Nation of Ontario Youth Vendor Table 2016’. Interested sponsors can contact Mitch Case at mitch.case@hotmail.com.
Published on: June 9, 2016