Students at St. Patrick Catholic School learned the art of Métis jigging from Métis knowledge keeper Alicia Hamilton.
During the session, students learned the history of Métis culture and jigging - hearing traditional music and learning a few basic jigging dance steps.
“I start every session talking about who the Métis are because there is so much confusion around it. Even from small we can start learning who the Métis are. We talk about how jigging is the Métis cultural dance style, that we play the fiddle and we jig to fiddle music. We then learn the basic step of jigging and we learn three fancy steps, because as the music changes you change your dance step and you would incorporate fancy steps. So, they have that in their tool kit as they are dancing,” Hamilton explained. “And then we play the Red River Jig, the most famous jigging piece in all the Métis nation.”
Following that, Hamilton teaches the students the rabbit dance – a form of group dance that allows them to jig together.
“It used to be really common that you would do group dances all together, so they get to experience that and then I finish off showing them just laying out the sashes in a cross so they can see another style of Métis dance,” she explained. “I also make sure I touch on the infinity symbol on our flag and incorporate some of the cultural pieces in as we are learning about the dance and having fun together.”
All Wellington Catholic DSB schools will have the opportunity to learn Métis jigging, an important aspect of Métis culture.
“So much was lost in the dark times for our people, hiding for about 100 years, that it is important to teach the future generations about what was lost. I know even from my own perspective with my little kids, when they hear the fiddle music - they are jigging. They love it and it’s wonderful,” shared Hamilton. “I think that a big part of Truth and Reconciliation is the truth part - learning about cultures. The more cultural pieces that can come in from our Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous cultures, what remains can help Canada move forward together. And if the children learn these things, they bring it forward with them into their adult lives, instead of being these unknown things, unknown experiences that you have never touched on in your life - you already have that foundation.”
And for students, learning in class through dance creates an extremely engaging environment.
“The students love it! Even all the way up through the grades, they love jigging,” said Hamilton. “It’s always fun to see them joining in enthusiastically. When I hear from teachers after, they share that the students havent stopped talking about jigging and they are jigging in the halls and jigging to class and just really enjoy it!”
Hamilton is one of the Métis Knowledge Keepers who visits Wellington Catholic DSB schools sharing Métis culture and traditions. To invite a Métis knowledge keeper into your classroom, please contact Cathy Doucette Resource Teacher Responsibilities with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Education.