Gala promises a fun evening for all involved

Page 6

Tickets are going fast for the Louis Riel Gala to be held at the Sands Hotel in Edmonton on Nov. 14. The evening will feature the second annual Joey Gladue and Delia Gray scholarship awards, a performance by the Creeland Dancers from Duck Lake, Sask., a variety of guest speakers, a fashion show, a live and silent auctions, and all held together by master of ceremonies Don Burnstick.

"It is going to be a fun event. There is something there to suit everyone's taste and budget," said John Coonie, auction chairman, of the items up for bid.

The Edmonton Metis Cultural Dance Society is hosting the gala. The evening kicks off a three-day extravaganza called Metis Fest, which will feature a talent show on Nov. 15 and dance, jigging and fiddle competitions the following day.

The society celebrated its 15th anniversary on Aug. 30.

Lyle Donald, director of the Society, recalled how times have changed the dance in Alberta over the years.

Back in the '60s, dance classes were held at the friendship centre and there were 12 square dance groups going across Alberta, with not only Metis groups competing, but also groups from First Nations communities like Kehewin, Sucker Creek, Alexander and Wabasca, he said.

"The First Nations groups were just as good as the Metis groups, if not better. Back then it was really good, healthy competition and they enjoyed the dancing because they grew up with it. But as the powwows got bigger, they moved away from the jigging and the dancing and back into their traditional dancing and it's left a big void for the rest of us, because they played a big part in the square dance roles," he said.

Fundraisers like the gala help the group to afford the things they need for their young dancers.

"With the Louis Riel Gala event coming up we can afford to buy the dancing shoes, the costumes and that kind of stuff," Donald said. "All we expect when the kids come out to dance is that the parents stick around and try to participate with the kids, to encourage them, and if we have bingos or casinos or other fundraisers, that they come out and volunteer. That is what we ask. It's been a pretty good year with kids just under 12 years old. We have pretty close to 22 coming to the program and then we have our older group as well," he said.

"Many stories about the dance have been taught to me by the Elders in our community. For example, what the duck dance means and what the reel of eight is, and we teach that to the younger kids. We explain how the dances are supposed to be done properly and it is good to get the young people out of their shyness and to build their self-esteem and to be proud of what they are and who they are."

Donald has four generations of dancers in his family currently involved with the group.

"That is why we want to continue to keep the dance group going. I have my children, grandchildren, my nieces and my nephews and their kids who are starting to dance also. It is something that we are proud of. We made it. We've kept the group together and we want to keep the dance alive," he said.

The group has traveled throughout Western Canada, Ontario, Quebec and the United States. They are looking at a tour of the Maritime provinces in May and they've been invited to festivals in Drummondville, Que. and Cornwall, Ont. in July 2003.

For further information about the dance society you can go to their Web site at www.metisdance.com. For information about the gala or Metis Fest, call (780) 451-1072.