Margaret Grenier, Executive and Artistic Director of the Dancers of Damelahamid, leads an Indigenous dance company dedicated to revitalizing and celebrating traditional dance while fostering cultural connection and reconciliation. Rooted in the teachings of her parents, who helped reclaim Indigenous song and dance following the Potlatch Ban, Grenier has worked tirelessly since 2003 to break barriers in the dance sector.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
The Dancers of Damelahamid works to advance the wider public’s knowledge and appreciation of Indigenous dance, through performances and community engagement on a regional, national, and international level. The company’s mandate and programing serve to bridge Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, promoting inclusivity, and cultural equity.
What problem does it aim to solve?
The effects of assimilationist policies in Canada are still very present today and there are many Indigenous people that do not have a strong connection to their artistic practices, language and cultural teachings. As we strengthen our cultural esteem and Indigenous identity, especially in our youth, we work towards a common future for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada, where colonial trauma and the ongoing effects of assimilationist policies can ultimately be transcended.
When did you start/join it?
I took over the role of leadership of the Dancers of Damelahamid in 2003, however, I grew up with the practice under the guidance of my parents Ken and Margaret Harris. They began the process of revitalization of song and dance in the 1960s following the lifting of the Potlatch Ban. It was because of their efforts that I learned everything from my oral histories and ancestral knowledge, to dance and regalia making, and a way of being in this world that lives in relationship to all things.
What made you want to get involved?
When I began the role of leadership it was because I saw that my parents were getting older and it was a large responsibility for them to continue to lead the Dancers of Damelahamid. I wanted my children and other youth to have the opportunity to grow up with this practice. I came to understand that it forms our very identity as Indigenous peoples and offers us the values and teachings that enable us to work towards healing and reconciliation as a community.
What was the situation like when you started?
When I started in an active role in directing the Dancers of Damelahamid, there were a lot of barriers in the dance sector. Indigenous dance was considered a community practice and there was no place for it in the broader milieu. We did the work without funding or support, in order to ensure the efforts of our parents were not lost.
How has it changed since?
Our company became the first Indigenous dance company from the West Coast to create large-scale productions, and tour dance networks in BC, nationally, and internationally. We have been presented at some of the most prestigious stages in this country. Through these connections, Dancers of Damelahamid strive to create opportunities for all Indigenous artists and the future of these dance forms.
What more needs to be done?
It is through diligent practice that this dance form endures as non-static and relevant to current innovation, influence, and insights. It is imperative for us to cultivate the care and commitment in our future generations that our parents offered us through these practices. This love and dedication stand at the foundation of the intergenerational processes that pass art, culture, and identity forward to the future.
How can our readers help?
Visit our website to donate or learn more. You can make a one-time gift or sign up as a monthly donor. Your support will advance and celebrate the cultural traditions and contemporary innovations of Indigenous dance.
Do you have any events coming up?
The 2025 Coastal Dance Festival will take place March 4-9. The Dancers of Damelahamid produce the annual Coastal Dance Festival (CDF), in partnership with The Anvil Centre in New Westminster and the Museum of Anthropology at UBC. The festival is a celebration of the stories, songs and dances of the Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast with guest national and international artists.
Where can we follow you?
PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?
BC Mental Health Foundation. It is critical that we better understand health and wellbeing in a holistic way and support those in need.
