Virginia Barter is a Toronto based historical writer/storyteller/musician and filmmaker. As a multi-disciplinary artist, Virginia is known for her unique style of storytelling using visual art, film and Aboriginal music and language. Virginia is a passionate advocate of Métis culture and history. Her family history, “Searching for the Silver Fox” was published as part of an anthology, The Long Journey of a Forgotten People: Métis Identities and Family Histories, Wilfred Laurier University Press. (2007).
Currently she is writing and producing a series of short films on Canadian fur trade history and culture. Her debut film, “HEARNE – Journey to the Northern Ocean” tells the story of the English explorer Samuel Hearne and the French attack on Fort Prince of Wales in 1782, for which she won several international student film awards in 2010.
Virginia’s explorations in Canadian storytelling also extend into the visuals arts. Inspired by her own family history, she combines historic maps, images and texts to teach literacy, history, geography and aboriginal awareness in an inter-disciplinary way through art. Her interactive piece, “FOUR DIRECTIONS ” received critical acclaim at Planet IndigenUs 2009, an international arts festival held at Harbourfront Centre. She was also a featured artist for Aboriginal Week, at Toronto City Hall in 2009.
Virginia is also a Past President and member of the board of the Métis Artists’ Collective (MAC) where for the past several years she has been a driving force behind the artistic visioning of the annual Métis Arts Festival events held in and around Toronto. She is a selected artist for the Ontario Arts Council “Aboriginal Artists in the Schools Program Roster (2011-2012) and (2014-15). (See “Artist in the Schools Program” page on her website for details.) She is also founder of the Métis Heritage Guild and organizer of the Métis Rendezvous – Culture Days event in Toronto, 2011.
Virginia is also Community Producer and Host of the television series, URBAN ABORIGINAL (2011-12 season). The show highlights the rich and culturally diverse contributions that Aboriginal people bring to life in the City of Toronto. Watch for it on Rogers TV Toronto Channels 10/63!
Currently she is producing a new documentary short “People of the Buffalo” (2014). It ‘s the story of a native family on a modern day bison ranch, and how their lives are guided a by the spirit of the buffalo and the old traditional ways.
Contact Info:
Virginia Barter, Toronto, Ontario
Phone: 416-421-5344; Cell: 416-312-9457
E:mail: vbarter@rogers.com
Website: http://www.virginiabarter.ca
(See Schools Program page for details on school presentations/workshops and public events. Also download a printable PDF brochure.)
Bio updated Feb 2014.