Métis Jigger

“Every culture has a traditional style of dance. I am an enthusiastic Métis jigger! There are many tunes to get one’s toe tapping, but the Métis National anthem, the Red River Jig, is the fiddle tune to dance to. I prefer the traditional style of dance that John and Vicki Arcand advocate as friends and teachers of Métis traditional dance and music. It requires patience, rhythm and stamina. You don’t have to be Métis to dance the Red River Jig. My teacher, Vancouver based professional Métis dance choreographer and dancer, Yvonne Chartrand, is my guide and mentor. Yvonne established and founded the Vancouver-based Louis Riel Métis Dancers of which I am a member. Another mentor and teacher is my mother, Irene Naytowhow. Jigging from the age of 16, she’s won numerous jigging competitions. At 76, she continues to compete and is a wealth of encouragement and enthusiasm for my own dance practice.”