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Marie Slark and Antoinette Charlebois

Passing Through the Darkness of our Past Lives into the Light of our Present Lives

We start by acknowledging the land directly related to the lived experiences shared in this learning resource. Anishinaabe Elder Mona Stonefish and Anishinaabe scholar Dolleen Tisawii’ashii Manning co-developed the following Land Acknowledgement:

We honour and respect the Original Peoples, the Anishinaabeg of the Three Fires Confederacy among the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi. We acknowledge that we live and work on their ancestral lands and that they continue to be dispossessed to the benefit of all settlers.

On This Page

Opening Song Context

Songs, storytelling, and other creative modes of expression are an important part of the culture of self-advocacy. They create a sense of community, strength, power, and activism in the face of extremely violent and oppressive systems. They provide wisdom, sustenance, and a way to celebrate life while navigating pathways through violent oppression.1(footnote)

The song Antoinette Charlebois and Marie Slark chose to include here is an original recording with Charlebois singing and Slark playing the drums. The song has deep significance for them.

“It makes me feel happy to sing it. It helps me feel connection with others on what they go through and the people they lose in their lives. Nobody knew what we went through in the institution. Singing this song makes me feel connected with all others who have gone through pains like this. I was kicked in the chest, and my life was miserable, and because I suffered, I love to sing for others – because it makes me feel happy to know I can help others feel happy.” ~Antoinette Charlebois

The images that accompany the song feature their creative artwork, their expressions of connection with others, and their love and hope for one another. In one photo, they sit in front of a white Christmas tree. Slark is sitting at the drums and, next to her, Charlebois is wearing a suit Slark designed and created for her. The second photo features a tablecloth with intricate needlepoint created by Charlebois. The third photo features the word HOPE stitched across a handbag Slark created.

Quand le Soleil dit Bonjour Aux Montagnes

Song Credits | Lyrics

Photo Credits

Activity 4

Institutional Control of Lives and Relationships, Finding Family and Humour

Go to Activity 4
Footnotes

  1. Liat Ben-Moshe, Chris Chapman, and Allison C. Carey, eds., Disability Incarcerated (New York: Palgrave Macmillan US, 2014), (Source). ↩

  2. Song Credits: Antoinette Charlebois, vocals, Marie Slark, percussion,“Quand le Soleil dit Bonjour Aux Montagnes, or The French Song,” by Lévis Bouliane, originally recorded 1959, produced by Kevin Laliberte, re-recorded November 18, 2021, Toronto, Ontario.

    ↩

  3. Quand le Soleil dit Bonjour Aux Montagnes (Original Version)

    Quand le soleil dit bonjour aux montagnes

    Et que la nuit rencontre le jour

    Je sui seule avec mes reves sur la montagne

    Une voix me rapelle toujours

    Ecoute a ma porte les chansons du vent

    M'rapelle les souvenirs de toi

    Quand le soleil dit bonjour aux montagnes

    Je suis seule, je ne veux penser qu'a toi

    Now when the sun says good day to the mountains

    And the night says hello to the dawn

    I'm alone with my dreams on the hilltop

    And I can still hear his voice though he's gone

    I hear from my door the love songs through the wind

    It brings back sweet memories of you

    Quand le soleil dit bonjour aux montagnes

    Je suis seule, je ne veux penser qu'a toi

    ↩

  4. Photo Credits: Needlepoint tablecloth by Antoinette Charlebois; Marie Slark and Antoinette Charlebois recording Quand le Soleil dit Bonjour Aux Montagnes; Hope Carrier by Marie Slark. ↩