COVER
COVER
Metis
Artist An Old Soul
BIOGRAPHY
Gino
Odjick Looks To Golf As A New Career
BOOKS
Native
Teen Coming-of-Age Tale
Historical
Pictorial Shows Effects of Commerce on Nation
BUSINESS
Business
and First Nations Team up for Green Energy
Nisga'a
Nation Manages Salmon With Tradition and Technology
Joint
Ventures Key to Haisla Plan for the Future
Westbank
Building Self-Government and Strong Relations
CRIME
Cree Family Accuses Judge of Racism
EDUCATION
UWO
Native Studies Centre hosts Ward Churchill
HUMOUR
Bee
in the Bonnet: Aren't You Special
POLITICS
Robert
Nault Will Not Seek Re-Election
Andrea Menard is a Metis actor and singer from Saskatoon. She is well
known in the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities as a powerful singer,
a gifted storyteller, and a tremendously talented and flexible actor.
Whether it be the professional theatre community, the music industry,
or the film and television industry, Andrea Menard's talent and music
appeals to a wide audience.
She
has written and starred in her first play, The Velvet Devil, (music
co-written by Robert Walsh) which premiered at Regina's Globe Theatre
in its 2000/2001 season. The play generated much excitement and inspired
the following events: a production at the National Arts Center, a CD of
the music, a live broadcast of the play on CBC National Radio, and a film
version with Westwind Pictures in 2004 (Designer Guys).
Andrea Menard's powerful voice is lyrical, raw, and reminiscent of the
jazz and blues singers of the 1940's. Her presence on stage sets an audience
at ease whether she is telling a story, making them laugh or making them
cry.
Ms. Menard is truly a gifted performer who has the ability to cross culture
and language by speaking from her heart.
Ms. Menard landed one of the leading roles in the hit new television series,
Moccasin Flats, and has been featured in such films as John Ketcham's
I Accuse, Anne Wheeler's Betrayed, and Tri-Mark Pictures'
Skipped Parts. Because of her growing reputation as a celebrity,
many television programs such as APTN's Buffalo Tracks, APTN and
SCN's Seventh Generation, CBC's Canada Now, CTV's Indigenous
Circle, Shaw Cable's Project Discovery, APTN and SCN's Metcom
and Canadian Learning Channel's Careers TV, have featured Andrea
as a celebrity profile or positive role model.
She was nominated for the Best Lead Female at the Saskatchewan Motion
Picture Awards for her work in the short film, Harold & Katja
and was invited to be a special guest on CBC's Dead Dog Café
Comedy Hour for two of their seasonal specials. Recently, Andrea was
privileged to be part of the talented cast of performers at the 10th Anniversary
National Aboriginal Achievement Awards in Ottawa and has been invited
back next year.
Her reputation as a solid, acappella performer has earned her many invitations
it perform at prestigious government events. During his recent visit,
Andrea was asked to perform a one-woman show for His Royal Highness, The
Earl of Wessex, at Regina's Globe Theater. She was also invited to perform
for His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, at the Saskatchewan Premiere's
Community Luncheon in Sasktoon in 2001.
She performed at the signing of The Metis Act in Regina, was invited to
sing for the Senate during Ottawa's Aboriginal Awareness Week, and performed
for Sheila Copps at the Gathering of Aboriginal Artistic Expression. Ms.
Menard just received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal by the Lieutenant
Governor of Saskatchewan for her outstanding performance in the arts.
Recent events had Andrea featured in the Government of Saskatchewan's
"Only in Saskatchewan" campaign as well as the Saskatchewan
Tourism initiative that reached a wide-spread readership in neighboring
state and provincial newspapers, where she was acknowledged nation-wide
for creating a high profile and flourishing career in the arts.
Andrea Menard is well respected in the professional theatre community.
Her credible work in new plays makes her the top actress sought by Saskatchewan
playwrights and theatres. Some of the premiere theatre productions in
which she has been involved include: Mansel Robinson's playStreet Wheat,
Floyd Favel Starr's Governor or the Dew, Greg Daniels' playFour
Horses, Joe Welsh's play Scared Places, Henry Woolf's Bim
& Bub, and a collaborative work called The Batoche Musical,
held during Back to Batoche Days.
She also appeared in Prairie Theatre's Exchange's Premiere Production
of Joni-Mitchell: River, and the classic play by Tomson Highway The
Rez Sisters.
Recently, Andrea appeared in Persephone Theatre's prduction of Only
Drunks and Children Tell the Truth and starred in Saskatchewan
Native Theatre Company's production of Wawatay.
She is currently performing in her own hit show, The Velvet Devil,
at the Saskatchewan Native Theatre.