Arts

		Literature	Visual arts
Dance	Theatre	Music	Choir

Fransaskoise Québecoise
Traditions and leisure Métisse Acadian Assimilation

	Fransaskoise	Québecoise
Traditions and leisure	Métisse	Acadian	Assimilation

Dance

A few generations ago, Francophone settlers filled the long winter nights with music and dance. The spirit of these dances is kept alive in the work of traditional dance groups such as La Ribambelle, from Saskatoon, and les Danseurs de la Rivière La Vieille, from Gravelbourg. These groups have participated in various festivals in North America and Europe.

Visual Arts

The ranks of the Fransaskois artistic community are filled with talented and imaginative people whose reputations go well beyond the boundaries of Saskatchewan. Joe Fafard, Wilf Perreault, Charley Farrero and Michelle Touchette are just a few of the Fransaskois artists who have achieved national and a international recognition

Every year, a travelling exhibition displays the works of Fransaskois artists in over a dozen urban and rural communities. This exhibition is a joint project of l'Association des artistes de la Saskatchewan and la Commission culturelle fransaskoise.

The wood sculptures of the Gareau family have helped to put the community of Bellevue on the tourist map.

Literature

Literature plays an important role in the cultural development of the Fransaskois community and is supported by a collaboration of various organizations. Over thirty books of all sorts, written by Fransaskois authors, have been published by les Éditions Louis Riel, la Société historique de la Saskatchewan, l'Association des artistes and la Commission culturelle fransaskoise.

Choirs

How can one resist the magical harmonies created by the voices of a francophone choir. Performances of the various choirs in the province provide an opportunity for Fransaskois to get together and sing. In the case of the choir Entr'amis from Prince Albert, this get-together produces a wonderful performance rich in humour and colour. Every year, this choir tours the province with a different show.

Theatre

These professional companies, La Troupe du jour and Les Productions de la part du lion, support the development of community theatre in Saskatchewan and offer various workshops and performances in Francophone and immersion schools in the Western provinces.

Every year, a Fransaskois community drama festival, brings together Francophone theater groups from all over the province giving them an opportunity to share their experiences. A yearly school theater festival, Le Festival théâtral jeunesse, gives students from various schools a chance to show their talent.

In July 1993, the first Foire théâtrale fransaskoise brought together various community, school and professional theatre groups during the Fête fransaskoise held in Gravelbourg.

Music

Francophone settlers who came to the Prairies brought with them traditional songs from Quebec, Acadia and Europe.

Fransaskois music has since taken root in Saskatchewan and, through time, has developed a distinctive flavour. Contemporary musicians such as Hart Rouge fromWillow Bunch, Gary Jean-Baptiste Kenler from Bellegarde, Eveline Nachtegaele and the Marchildon brothers from Zénon Park gradually introduced new modern rythms.

Fransaskois musicians are ambassadors for Saskatchewan culture. When Les Zed plays at the Festival d'été in Quebec city or when the Collège Mathieu's band, Le Mat, tours the Western provinces, they bring along the message of a Fransaskois culture that is alive and well.

Music is dear to the heart of Francophones. There is rarely a social or official event in the Fransaskois community that doesn't end with music.

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