Fort Frances is a blend of rich cultures and diversity mixed together to make one great community.
But what happens if you don’t feel that you fit in? Is it important to feel proud of who you are and where you came from?
This Friday (Nov. 9), local MP Ken Boshcoff will host the second in a series of evenings to celebrate Fort Frances’ cultural communities. Come and hear stories and celebrate with “Canada’s Forgotten People”—the Métis.
In a story that echoes so many, Sunset Country Métis president Clint Calder did not even realize he was Métis until he was in his 40s.
“All I knew was that I didn’t feel that I fit in anywhere. I wasn’t white and I wasn’t First Nation,” he noted. “What I didn’t know was that I had a rich culture and history of my own.”
At the time, Calder, his wife, and two children lived near Toronto and his journey of discovery brought him home to Fort Frances. Calder and local historian Darryl Allan will tell the Métis story from the points-of-view of both the French and Scottish lineage.
Erma Armit, who has contributed to the evening with her passion for genealogy research, noted, “To understand and accept who we are, it is important to understand the history, gifts, and struggles of our ancestors.
“When I do genealogy research, beside the name there is always a date of birth, a dash, and a date of death,” she noted. “Always look at the dash. There’s a story there.”
Homegrown country singer Sandra Allan will be performing music written especially for the evening.
Allan is a singer, songwriter, and recording artist who was born and raised in Fort Frances. She has recorded in New York, Nashville, Oshawa, Thunder Bay, and Fargo, N.D.
Most recently, she released her fifth recording—a three-song demo of original songs: “59 Reasons,” “When Forever Starts,” and “Dark Blue Sky.”
Allan also recently wrote a song called “Addicted,” which was added to a movie by Winnipeg film-maker Cam Patterson.
The film, “Flashes,” premieres Dec. 13 in Winnipeg and Allan will sing her song live at the Park Theater.
“I’m honoured to be part of the Métis night on Friday evening. I am very much a proud member of the Métis nation,” said Allan.
Fiddlers Elmer Whitefish, from Lac La Croix, and John Faith, from International Falls, will be accompanied by Jim Avis and Bill McEvoy.
The fiddling should make the evening a lot of fun. The Métis traditionally were known for their merry-making.
Once the program is over, the music will continue so the audience can try to dance to the Métis jigs, reels, and Celtic music.
Along with the always popular Métis fish fry, it will be a night of high emotion and entertainment.
“This will be a great opportunity for the local Métis community to share some of their culture, and for the broader community to understand the historical and contemporary contributions of the Métis in the development of the Fort Frances area,” said Gary Lipinski, chair of the Métis Nation of Ontario.
“In Canada, we have a tradition of keeping the best from each culture and creating a hybrid way of life,” Boshcoff said of the “Proud to be Canadian” series.
“It’s interesting to understand the different pieces of our society and the story behind the people,” he added.
This celebration, sponsored by the Sunset Country Métis, will be held this Friday (Nov. 9) at 5 p.m. at the Métis Hall (714 Armit Ave.)
Tickets cost $20 each, which can be purchased at the Sunset Country Métis office, Fort Frances General Supply, or by calling Wanda Botsford at 274-6736.
Come and be proud to be Métis, or proud to know one!
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
