Douglas Sinclair

March 19, 2024

Red River Métis band nominated for 2024 Juno Award

_{Beyond Borders Citizen Douglas Sinclair and his band, The Red River Ramblers, have been nominated for Traditional Indigenous Artist of the Year at the 2024 Junos.
Pictured left to right: James McEleney, John Showman, Douglas Sinclair, and Stephen Dayfoot.}

The Red River Ramblers, led by Beyond Borders Citizen Douglas Sinclair, have been nominated for a Juno Award for Traditional Indigenous Artist of the Year.

"To be honest, I did not expect it. Amanda Rheaume and Brianna Lizotte were involved with the committee and reached out to me to apply. They are both excellent Métis musicians. I had not thought of applying on my own," Sinclair said. "I feel grateful that they both reached out to me and encouraged me to apply. I'm hoping that the nomination will open our doors to performing more, and it would be wonderful to perform across our (Red River) Métis Homeland."

The Red River Métis artist comes from a long line of musicians.

"My Métis family has always supported my musical journey, and we have many musicians in the family, both past and present," he said. "I was told stories of our Métis heritage as well as musicians in the family, uncles, cousins. We are related to Andy de Jarlis, one of the best Métis fiddlers in my books. We are also related to Pierre Falcon, the famous historical Métis poet and songwriter. It's hard to say whether it is nature or nurture."

_{Sinclair comes from a long line of Red River Métis musicians and is proud to carry on his family's musical traditions.}

The musician first connected with the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) because of the pride he takes in his Red River Métis roots.

"My family are Red River Métis. My dad moved to southern Ontario for school where he met my mom. I grew up in southern Ontario, but my Métis family are from Red River and the Métis Homeland," he said. "I still have Métis family who live across the (Red River) Métis Homeland. I see the MMF as the one true government representing the (Red River Métis) today."

When looking into his MMF Citizenship, Sinclair first connected with Minister Will Goodon over social media.

"(Minister) Will (Goodon) replied to me right away and has always been very supportive and willing to talk. His community work is excellent and another reason I am proud to have the MMF represent me," Sinclair said.

The musician finds comfort in knowing that the National Government of the Red River Métis will always have their Citizens' backs, regardless of where they reside.

"I feel great knowing that wherever I roam, the MMF will represent me. I've attended Beyond Borders events in Toronto. It's been wonderful to meet with representatives of our (Red River) Métis Government," he said. "The outreach the MMF is doing, by establishing connections not based on Canadian provincial borders, but by the network of our (Red River) Métis Homeland, makes a lot of sense and is inspiring."

"I feel great knowing that wherever I roam, the MMF will represent me. I've attended Beyond Borders events in Toronto. It's been wonderful to meet with representatives of our (Red River) Métis Government. The outreach work the MMF is doing, by establishing connections not based on Canadian provincial borders, but by the network of our (Red River) Métis Homeland, makes a lot of sense and is inspiring."
- Douglas Sinclair

Sinclair first started The Red River Ramblers in 2019. The band's name hails from the musician's connection to the Red River, and the "rambling" or moving around the Red River Métis have done throughout history.

Including Sinclair, the band currently consists of members Stephen Dayfoot, John Showman, and James McEleney. In the summer of 2022, Sinclair invited music veterans Showman (fiddle) and McEleney (bass) to record the album, Reverie. Its first single, "Road To Pembina," was released in October 2022, a track that has received recognition for the way it incorporates Red River Métis history.

"They tell the story of the Métis buffalo hunts, the great rendezvous. The tunes tell the story through sound. In "Road to Pembina," the fiddle produces high and screeching sounds, akin to the sound of the Red River carts that could be heard far in the distance while they travelled across the plains."

Reverie, which was released in January 2023, features six original compositions written and arranged by Sinclair, and two traditional Métis fiddle covers. Sinclair noted that this album is a way of bringing the distinct style of Métis fiddling, both from a musical perspective and a cultural lens, to the mainstream.

"My Red River Métis heritage, our history, our stories, are the roots from where my music has grown. I've spent hours and hours listening to the music of Andy de Jarlis, John Arcand, Gilbert Anderson, Cliff Maytwayashing, and Patti Kusturok, to name a few," said the musician. "I love the crooked metres, the fierce tempos, the bowing styles, the percussive elements, the dancing that make Métis fiddle unique. My music takes all those elements and burns a new path. My music tells a story and emotes a feeling related to that story, whether it is a story of our history or a story of my own experience. I hope that listeners will imagine and feel while they listen to our music."

_{Reverie features six original compositions written and arranged by Sinclair, as well as two covers of traditional Métis fiddle tunes.}

Sinclair sees the Red River Ramblers' Juno nomination as only the beginning and hopes it will lead to more opportunities in the future.

"We are proud to represent Red River Métis and the MMF on the national stage and beyond. Whenever we play, we always get compliments from people, some who have never even heard Métis fiddle music before or fiddle music in general," he said. "Our music is enjoyed across many peoples and cultures. Since it is instrumental, it can provide a complimentary soundscape for an event, (or) a movie, or be the centre of attention for an audience. Our music is versatile, and I hope it will bring a new light to the world, and show everyone who (Red River) Métis people are."

In addition to his musical endeavours, Sinclair has also worked with award-winning Red River Métis author Katherena Vermette and illustrator Stephen Gladue on a short film about Métis fur trader and pioneer Pierre Falcon, released by Historica Canada in 2021.

"I provided an instrumental arrangement of Pierre Falcon's "Chanson de la Grenouillère," as well as the voice-over audio for the spoken words," he said.

To follow the band's musical journey, visit their website and keep up to date on the March 24 Juno Awards here!

 

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