Filmmaker Gail Maurice Showcases Métis Identity and Northern Michif Language
A new cinematic offering, Blood Lines, is poised to illuminate the rich tapestry of Métis culture and identity for a wider audience. Written and directed by acclaimed Métis actor Gail Maurice, the film is set within an Ontario Métis community and delves into complex family dynamics.
Maurice herself takes on the role of Léonore, a mother striving to mend a fractured relationship with her estranged daughter, Beatrice, played by Dana Solomon. The narrative unfolds as Beatrice grapples with years of neglect, further complicated by the arrival of Chani (Derica Lafrance), a newcomer seeking her biological family. Beatrice, drawn to Chani, offers her assistance.
Bridging Cultural Gaps Through Film
Speaking at the Toronto International Film Festival, Maurice emphasized the scarcity of films exploring the Métis world. “Not a lot of Canadians know anything about Métis culture or Métis identity, even to this day,” Maurice stated. “People ask: ‘What are you?’ and I’ll say I’m Métis. And they say, ‘Oh, what’s that?’”
With Blood Lines, Maurice aims to foster a deeper understanding of Métis heritage. The film is notable for being the first Canadian feature to prominently highlight both Métis identity and language. “It’s also the first feature film in the history of Canada to have the Northern Michif language spoken in the film,” Maurice announced, referring to a dialect of Michif, a language blending Cree and French influences.
To ensure authenticity, Maurice sought out actors from her ancestral village of Beauval in northern Saskatchewan. “There’s only five villages in the world that speak my Northern Michif dialect, so I had to go to my village in Beauval in northern Saskatchewan to find (many of) my actors, who have never acted before,” she explained, referencing the ensemble of elders, dubbed the “granny gang,” who appear to guide the mother-daughter reconciliation.
Maurice described her thematic focus, stating, “I needed authentic speakers and I wanted to portray everything as authentically as possible in this film. All my themes in my films are family, identity, culture and chosen family.” She added, “So this is a love story, not only to women, but also to my Métis identity.”
A Dancer’s Perspective
Dana Solomon, who portrays Beatrice, brings a unique background to the role. Of Anishinaabe and Guyanese descent, Solomon grew up with exposure to Métis culture, which proved beneficial for her character, a competitive dancer. “I’ve been around jiggers growing up. My grandfather, Elmer Seymour, used to be one of the best fiddlers in the region, so that was kind of nice familiarity for me,” Solomon shared.
Solomon, also a writer-director, recently premiered her short film Niimi at TIFF. Her classical ballet training, including studies at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, aided her in executing the film’s jigging sequences. “I’m definitely more classically trained, but I think once you’re a dancer, and you practise and you see it enough, you can pick it up,” she remarked.
