By Kevin Ma
Get those fiddles out of storage, jigging fans – the Métis Spring Festival is happening this year after all.
The Gazette reported last month that the 8th annual Métis Spring Festival was cancelled. The annual event had drawn hundreds of artists and guests to St. Albert since 2009 to see and hear some of the region's top Métis fiddlers, singers and jiggers.
Two factors led the group to cancel the event last November, said organizer Florence Gaucher. First, its organizers, the Métis Child & Family Services Society of Edmonton, had spent about $65,000 to run the event for the last two years, and was hoping another group would step up to help support it.
Second, while they had the cash to do another festival on hand, they also weren't sure if their contract with the province would be renewed. They decided to cancel the festival as a precaution.
That decision triggered a lot of calls from people disappointed by the decision – enough calls that Gaucher and the other organizers changed their mind about the festival last Sunday.
"It's going to be brought back by popular demand," Gaucher said.
"We felt it was really important for our children and families to participate in their own culture."
The 2016 Métis Spring Festival will now happen as scheduled on May 21 and 22 at Servus Credit Union Place.
Although the group has decided to pay the $30,000-$40,000 cost of the event itself this year, Gaucher said she's seeking sponsorship from other community groups to fund future festivals.
"If we start planning now, maybe there's actual funding out there we can tap into, right? We just never have."
Gaucher said she managed to get the performers, musicians and venue needed for this year's festival in place within 24 hours.
"Everything worked out."
One of the first performers she contacted was renowned fiddler Calvin Vollrath, a regular at the festival. Vollrath said May is actually a slow time on the festival circuit, so he was able to sign up for the festival on short notice.
"I'm thrilled and excited about it. I think it's a wonderful event."
Sharon Morin of the Michif Institute said she was very excited to hear of the festival's return.
"Our culture is what really makes us distinct," she said, and this is one of the few Métis-specific cultural events around.
Gaucher said the festival will be very similar to the one held last year, featuring a talent show, a jig and fiddle competition, and performances by the Asham Stompers and Sagkeeng's Finest.
Métis music and dance is a part of Alberta's history, Morin noted, with the Red River Jig being one of the first forms of folk music in the region.
Vollrath said there were fiddle and jig events like this one every week at the Native Friendship Centre in downtown Edmonton back when he was young. He encouraged everyone to come to the festival to enjoy some old-time fun.
"I do see people who just can't sit still and they grab their partners and dance down the aisles."
Tickets are $7 to $10, with free admission for those under six. Contact Gaucher at 780-452-6100 ext. 227 for details.
