#metis fiddle

[fiddlewave]

Just learned Arcand-saw Traveler today. 

This version of Arkansas Traveler is named after John Arcand, who remembers his ancestors playing the song this way. This is a “crooked” tune... unconventional rhythms and styles of fiddle in here, keeping with the métis, native and french canadian traditions.

 The fiddler here, I believe is April Verch.

[timholtorf]

Sierra's Song - Metis Fiddle Music (by camerasglobal)

History time!

Metis fiddle music has been a part of Canada (and Saskatchewan) for a long, long time.  First, who are the Metis?  From wiki:

The Métis (/meɪˈtiː/; Canadian French: [meˈtsɪs]; Michif: [mɪˈtʃɪf]) are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations and European heritage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with formal recognition equal to that of the Inuit andFirst Nations. Mothers were often Cree, Ojibwe, Algonquin, Saulteaux, Menominee, Mi'kmaq or Maliseet.[3] At one time there was an important distinction between French Métis born of francophone voyageur fathers, and the Anglo-Métis or Countryborn descended from English or Scottish fathers. Today these two cultures have essentially coalesced into one Métis tradition.[4][5] Other former names—many of which are now considered to be offensive—include Bois-Brûlés, Mixed-bloods, Half-breeds, Bungi, Black Scots and Jackatars.[6]

The Métis homeland includes regions scattered across Canada, as well as parts of the northern United States (specifically Montana,North Dakota, and northwest Minnesota).[7]

The Metis played the fiddle, which was introduced by the Scots and by French-Canadians.  Again, from wiki:

Métis fiddle is the style which the Métis of Canada and Métis in the northern United States have developed to play the violin, solo and in folk ensembles. It is marked by the percussive use of the bow and percussive accompaniment (such as spoon percussion). The Meti ( /meɪˈtiː/; Canadian French: [meˈtsɪs]; Michif: [mɪˈtʃɪf]) people blend First Nations, French, English, Celtic and other ancestry. Fiddles were "introduced in this area by Scottish and French-Canadian fur traders in the early 1800s".[1]

The young lady playing the fiddle is Sierra Noble, an accomplished fiddle player