Chartrand, Jules

Larence, Bouvier, Belanger

English crg (Michif)

Jules Chartrand is a retired Métis born and raised in the Michif Community of Saint Laurent on Lake Manitoba. Besides French Canadian ancestry, he has ancestry among several western First Nation groups, i.e., the Cree, the Odjibway, Blackfeet, and Chipeweyan. He grew up speaking the Michif Language, which is a dialect of French, as spoken in St Laurent and all over the North West in Canada. In his youth, he worked with his father in commercial fishing and carpentry and haying for farmers. After high school, he worked for CN Rail as a telegapher, station agent, and in train traffic control.
Retiring early, he worked as a court clerk in Winnipeg and St Boniface. After taking a course in driving with the Reimer Driving School, he drove trucks long haul for several years. Jules always took an interest in the history of St Laurent, in the Métis and their language. At festivals in St Laurent he gave historical tours of the community and did the same for groups of tourists, teachers, and others coming to St Laurent. He also spoke in the schools at St Laurent to help preserve the history and language of the people. He was a member of the local St Laurent Theatre Group for over ten years. Jules has appeared in several documentaries, including A Diary of the Crow Wing Trail, by Lorne Chartrand and Nos Cousins Canadiens, by Berengere Casanova of Paris France, which was aired in France.
He continues to get involved in various works of art in the Francophone, Métis and elder communities, and competed this year in the Francophone seniors programs: “Coeur d’Artistes” where he did very well, telling tales of St Laurent!

R00038

Chartrand

Jules