With Métis roots originating in St. Laurent, Manitoba, Andrea Menard is an accomplished Métis singer-songkeeper, speaker, author, and founder of the Sacred Feminine Learning Lodge. She is a 5-time Gemini-nominated actress, a 15-time Canadian music award winner and was named ACTRA National’s Woman of the Year in 2021. Andrea dedicates her life and work to empowering both the Indigenous and the Feminine voice through song, story, activism, training, and healing. As seen in USA Today, Andrea is an influencer in Feminine leadership and was named one of WXN Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 in 2020. Her TEDx talk called “Silent No More” has reached over 127,000 views and she is the author of Seeds from the Sacred Feminine Wisdom Cards, soon to be released with Mango Publishing. Andrea created Sacred Feminine Learning Lodge to help women and all-gendered people reclaim and embody the qualities of the Sacred Feminine.
Andrea Menard is a creative Indigenous powerhouse on a mission. She has written and released 4 award-winning albums, 2 original symphony shows, and 2 critically acclaimed television specials and was named ACTRA National’s Woman of the Year in 2021. She’s not only performed for Royalty three times, entertained 4 different Prime Ministers, and sang Joni Mitchells’ song, Big Yellow Taxi, IN FRONT OF Joni Mitchell, but she has used her voice to bring awareness to the legacy of violence in Canada’s Indian Residential Schools, the over 2400 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls in Canada, and even sang her song “Peace” to the world’s NATO Generals. No wonder she was named one of WXN Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 award winners in 2020. This heart-centred Métis warrior carries two traditional names that deeply inform her work. Andrea knows where she comes from, and where she is going: to bring wellness to her community and balance to the planet.
I had to be disconnected from my Indigenous teachings for a while to become aware of what really matters. Now that I’m 50, I realize that I can be of service exactly where I am. Because I express myself through four different mediums (singer, actor, writer, and messenger/speaker) I consider myself and my career as a medicine wheel. When I am engaged in one of these things, I shine, but when I am engaged in all four, I believe I am fulfilling my highest purpose.
I think I’m just hitting my stride. Over the next couple of years I will be debuting a number of exciting new ventures:
– My deck of “Seeds from the Sacred Feminine Wisdom Cards” will be released with Mango Publishing.
– I am launching a Canadian tour of a new theatrical cabaret called, “Rubaboo.”
– I will be performing my original symphony pops concert with several Canadian symphonies.
– I will be releasing a new Michif language album, called “Pass it On Songs.”
– And I will be hosting my “Matriarchs in Training” and “Lead Like a Goddess” events through the Sacred Feminine Learning Lodge.
If you asked me 10 years ago that any of this would come to fruition on this scale, I would have laughed. Who knew that when you peel away the layers of fear and self-doubt, the most precious, genuine, authentic YOU can be found. And man…can she do amazing things!
I’m all about helping people rediscover the value of feminine wisdom, which is akin to Indigenous wisdom. When we learn to value our nurturing, receptive natures, we learn to listen better. We begin to listen to our feelings. We begin to listen to the cries of the Land and all our Relatives. We become better acquainted with stillness and we learn to walk gentler on this planet. I help people remember who they really are and their role as caretakers of the planet.
I like to say that we are returning to the circle. A circle is whole and includes everything. Nobody gets left out in a circle. Returning to the circle means we are recognizing all that has been left out over the centuries. A revaluing of all those who have been devalued: women, Indigenous people, black people, people of colour, Two-Spirit, queer, trans and non-binary people, people with disabilities, Elders, children, Mother Earth, animals, our feelings, etc. When you look around you, it may look like a scary dissolution of everything familiar, but I believe this is good. Our systems need an overhaul. But if we follow the call of the circle, we can welcome everyone home in a good way. We all belong in the circle. We have just forgotten.
