Dance

“Bannock & Oatmeal”

Written by Lisa Shepherd

Performed by Lisa Shepherd and the Maple Sugar Jiggers

I was enticed into Métis Jigging by a respected and accomplished young dancer, Madeleine McCallum. Maddy has been dancing pretty much since she left the womb and is a jigging champion.  When she invited me to join the Louis Riel Métis Dancers, I was flattered. When she asked me to step into competition with them, I thought she was joking.  She wasn’t.  Before I knew it, I was a core dancer with the Louis Riel Métis Dancers, part of Compaigni V’ni Dansi which was formed by Yvonne Chartrand, National Jigging Champion.  I rehearse weekly, under the expert instruction of Yvonne and the troupe averages a performance a week.  I am blessed to have these women in my life, sharing their dance experience and knowledge with me.

In March 2009, I began teaching a weekly dance class through Métis Family Services, in Surrey.  I bring the children a bit of Métis history each week and teach them basic jig steps, fancy steps and community dances. It’s a joy to see how good they feel when they know they have done well.

In May, 2009, I formed The Maple Sugar Jiggers all-girl Métis Dance Troupe to showcase some of the Métis dance talent of the Fraser Valley of British Columbia. The troupe has performed at events like Earth Day Celebration, Canada Day Festival and the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Arts Week Celebration. Whether showing off the fancy footwork of traditional Métis jigging ourselves or teaching a jigging workshop to the audience, the pride that we feel for our Métis heritage is apparent. As energy builds, the fun and humour that is such a part of the Métis way of life is interjected in healthy doses. Canadiana history of the Métis is experienced, rather than told, in what becomes a “good old Métis kitchen party” atmosphere where hearts pound like the running of the buffalo and happiness lingers like the taste of maple sugar.

To book the Maple Sugar Jiggers for your own special event, please contact me.

Dance and Workshop Schedule here