Catherine Dagenais-Savard

Artists in residence

Espace Perreault offers a space for creation, reflection, and freedom to a guest artist.

Catherine yiatsih
wendat chia’ québécoise endi’
yänariskwa’ iwayitiohkou’tenh
Wendake indare’
Cushing ekwayehtih

I received this gift, which is this research grant, and what I want is to create something useful and concrete that inspires the members of my Wendat community, especially children, to continue learning their language.

To do this, I have chosen to embark on a multidisciplinary creation involving dance, singing, and theater. I grew up in the world of musical theater and am professionally trained as a contemporary dancer. Since 2015, I have learned three styles of powwow dance: fancy shawl, smoke dance, and hoop dance. Can these worlds coexist? Do certain codes overlap? Which influences can waltz together, and which values clash? I strongly wish to bring these mediums and cultures together to create a unique yet accessible form of expression.

I invite you to quietly follow my process. Read my questions and doubts, and follow my encounters as the creation unfolds.

My name is Catherine.

I am Wendat and Québecoise.

I am from the Wolf Clan.

I live in Wendake.

I am originally from Cushing.

©Yvonne Richard

Events

Documents

Excerpt from work

Excerpt from the song “Hahchiouta’ah”

Excerpt from work / Excerpt from the song “Hahchiouta’ah”

Article

Artistic research and the Wendat language

Cette recherche artistique me donne une nouvelle opportunité de faire vivre la langue wendat dans mon quotidien et j’en suis bien heureuse. Ce qu’il faut comprendre avec cette langue c’est que, comme mentionné dans mon premier article, elle est en dormance. Il n’y a plus de locuteurs depuis plus de 100 ans donc, nous avons plusieurs trous dans notre casse-tête linguistique.

Article

Kwe / Ndio !

Je suis une artiste en danse, chant et théâtre. Je travaille pour le secteur culturel et linguistique de Wendake. Je suis la fille de mes parents.