ASSINIBOIA - A Culture Days event at the Assiniboia and District Museum welcomed Catherine Robichaud and her mother, Lita Fergusen from Wood Mountain to demonstrate a few First Nation dances on Oct. 1, including some contemporary and some old style.
Catherine danced the “Jingle Dance” which began in early 1900’s by an Ojibwe Tribe. This dance then moved throughout the United States and in Canada. It is a dance seen at competition powwows. The dances have a lot of foot work and cardio work is involved.
Catherine provides instruction to these dances to friends and family. Discussion and questions were asked. One of the questions about Catherine’s dress design and colour. Residents learned that it was chosen by her grandmother.
A person asked weight of the jingles or cones and the answer was about 20 pounds. Other questions included: who does the dragonfly design of beads and the meaning of the white weasel fur plus more.
Beverages and home-made cookies were served with more conversation. Appreciation was expressed to the dancers and to the many people that came for the Culture Days event at the Museum in Assiniboia.
