About Us

Ray is an Anishnabe and a member of the Sagamok Anishnabek First Nation. During his youth, Ray lived a traditional lifestyle of hunting, fishing, trapping and living within his homeland territory of Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850. He has worked full time for 43 years including 35 years with the Canadian Federal Public Service joining the Department of Human Resources & Social Development. Ray has worked for various Departments/Regions in the Federal Government the Saskatchewan Government and was the Executive Director of the National Assoication of Aboriginal Friendship Centres. Most recently, Ray was Senior Policy Advisory to the CEO, Sagamok Anishnabek and facilitated the Lessons Learned meeting of the All Parties Table, Federal Government, Churches and Survivors of the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement.  Girard Gallery is extrememly grateful and honoured that Raymond has gone to great lengths to teach Melanie and her family more about the Indigenous cultures, and history through travels across Canada and meetings with Indigenous community artists and leaders throuhout Canada in this unique" labour of love" as he calls it.

Melanie Girard works in public relations and communications. She is also a certified designer and artist. She was born in Ottawa, ON. and moved to Paris, France after hightshool to travel and study art and fashion design. She worked in public relations and design for haute couture houses such as Christian Dior, Sonia Rykiel and Givenchy for several years before raising a family with her husband and supporting his professional football career. Melanie is dedicated to promoting art and artists that she is passionate about. She also paints in oils.  Her first introduction to art was Indigenous art around her city where she remembers visiting art galleries with her mother and falling in love with Inuit stone cut art from Cape Dorset. She was fascinated and touched by the stories and the teachings behind each piece. Indigenous Art is the Heart of Canadian Art and it is with this sentiment and the love and respect for the Indigenous community of her home country that she has become passionate about representing the very talented First Nation, Inuit and Métis artists of Turtle Island. Melanie is a graduate from Studio Berçot, Paris and Ecole des Beaux Arts. She is now the enthusiastic owner of Girard Galleries.