Atikamekw Fans Gift Beaded Medallions to Bassist Robert Trujillo and he wore this during Metallica’s band two Montreal shows
Atikamekw Fans Gift Beaded Medallions to Metallica Bassist Robert Trujillo
Robert Trujillo wore the medallions during the heavy metal band’s two Montreal shows
When Sipi Flamand traveled to Montreal to see Metallica perform over the weekend, he never expected to see his beadwork on stage, adorning bassist Robert Trujillo.
“I was really surprised,” said Sipi Flamand, the chief of the Atikamekw community of Manawan, located about 260 kilometers north of Montreal. “I had no expectation that this would happen, especially not while watching the show in the evening.”
Metallica performed two concerts at the Olympic Stadium on Friday and Sunday as part of their M72 World Tour, named after their latest album, 72 Seasons.
Sipi beaded a medallion in 2013 featuring the band’s ninja star icon and the four Ms from Metallica’s original 1983 logo. He gifted it to his cousin, Danik Létourneau, who wore it to Friday’s show. A video of Létourneau placing the medallion around Trujillo’s neck as he approached the crowd went viral after being shared on Metallica’s Instagram account.
“It happened during my favorite song, ‘Harvester of Sorrow,’ and I feel very lucky,” Létourneau said. “After giving it to him, I told him ‘it’s Indigenous,’ and he raised his fist.”
Sipi expressed pride in seeing Trujillo, who is of Mexican and Taos Pueblo descent, wear the medallion.
“Medallions are very significant; they can represent identity, clans, history. The Metallica medallion is like an identity,” he said.
Second Medallion Gifted
On Sunday, Trujillo received a second medallion beaded by another member of Manawan, Dannys Flamand. She created the medallion for her partner, Lionel Petiquay, to wear to the concert, but he decided to give it to a friend with floor tickets, who offered it to Trujillo.
“I was moved and jumping for joy when I recognized the medallion on Rоb’s neck,” said Dannys. “The fact that he wore it… he will be able to live with a creation that I spent hours working on, putting all my effort, my passion, and my appreciation for this group.”
Dannys Flamand spent three days, working 12 hours each day, to bead the medallion. She signed the back and is excited about the idea that Trujillo will know her nаme.
“For me, beadwork is like medicine. It greatly improves my concentration, self-esteem, patience, and meticulousness,” she said. She added that listening to Metallica has similarly helped her through difficult times.
“I think it’s the same for other Atikamekw fans in my community,” said Dannys. “The Atikamekw of Manawan are big fans of the group. The community looked empty yesterday because everyone had gone to Montreal for the show.”