Raven Mother

Raven Mother is the Dancers of Damelahamid’s newly choreographed dance work in honour of late Elder Margaret Harris (1931 – 2020). Raven Mother illustrates the vast impact Elder Harris had on the revitalization of Indigenous dance along the Northwest Coast, and the integral role of women in holding cultural knowledge. It celebrates our mothers who created the stronghold of these artforms and influenced the next generation of women. Raven Mother illuminates the profound leadership of our mothers, their essential contribution in this resurgence, and the force and transformation of this awakening.

Raven Mother is the Dancers of Damelahamid’s most ambitious production and will be the culmination of generations of artistic and cultural work. With Raven Mother, movement, song, regalia, sculpture, and design, are interwoven with the embodied narrative. The Raven crest, manifested in multiple forms, embodies transformation, the strengthening of culture, the unveiling of a new spirit, and breathing life into a promise made to the children of generations to come.

Raven Mother speaks to our current realities, drawing from a rich lineage of teachings and insights. Innovation is conditional upon revealing the truths of today to pursue cultural endurance and intergenerational sustenance. Raven Mother is a tangible remembrance of a woman’s spirit, marking the shift between generations that has sparked a new role for our daughters as the force to hold their grandmother’s vision.

Late Elder Margaret Harris was a respected Cree Elder from Northern Manitoba.  She spent a large part of her life on the Northwest Coast of BC with her husband Chief Kenneth Harris (1928-2010) and trained under Gitxsan Matriarch Irene Harris (1888-1972). She dedicated her life to the revitalization and teaching of Indigenous cultural practices, including song, dance, stories, and regalia making. Together, Elder Margaret Harris and Chief Harris founded the Dancers of Damelahamid in 1967.

Created and Produced by Dancers of Damelahamid

Artistic Director and Choreographer: Margaret Grenier

Set Designer and Artwork: Andrew Grenier

Regalia Designer and Creator: Rebecca Baker-Grenier

Song Composer and Vocalist: Raven Grenier

Collaborating Composer: Ted Hamilton

Lighting Designer: Jeff Harrison

Projection Designer: Andy Moro

Collaborating Director: Charles Koroneho

Northwest Coast Artists: David A. Boxley, David R. Boxley, Jim Charlie, Raven Grenier, Kandi McGilton and Dylan Sanidad

Elders: Betsy Lomax and Lawrence Trottier

Performers: Margaret Grenier, Rebecca Baker-Grenier, Raven Grenier, Nigel Baker-Grenier, Tobie Wick

Production/Stage Manager: Andy Grenier

Technical Director: Jeff Harrison

Developed with support from the National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund.

This work is a co-production of the CanDance Network Creation Fund, DanceWorks, Dance Victoria, National Arts Centre and Danse Danse.

Dancers of Damelahamid gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of British Columbia, British Columbia Arts Council and Metro Vancouver.

Raven Mother was created with the support of:

• The Anvil Theatre 

• The Cultch

• The Venables Theatre 

• Ballet BC 

• Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity

Dancers of Damelahamid would like to thank: 

• The Hamber Foundation

• Re:Naissance

• Anndraya T. Luui