Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Métis dance troupe makes Olympic grade
Asham Stompers wins audition to perform at Games
HANDOUT PHOTO The Asham Stompers will perform at next month�s Olympic Games.
The Métis dance troupe has won an audition to perform at this year's Olympic Games.
They'll dance the famous Red River Jig and other Métis jigs and square dances, born in the late 1700s and early 1800s at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers.
"It's amazing. We're extremely excited," said Arnold Asham, leader of the 13-member dance troupe whose ages range from seven to 59.
"Our mission is to recapture and preserve the history of Métis people through the Red River Jig. We see the Olympics as the biggest stage in the world in which to spread our culture."
The Olympics is a long way from a small cabin in the Métis community of Reedy Creek on the west side of Lake Manitoba, where Asham was home birthed along with his eight siblings. He comes by dancing naturally. His mother loved to dance and his father was a caller.
Two dance members hail from Reedy Creek, 10 kilometres south of Ebb and Flo First Nation, and another three are from Peguis First Nation. There are eight Métis and five First Nation people in the troupe.
The Asham Stompers wanted very badly to perform at the Games. Members paid their own way to Vancouver last July to audition before the Four Host First Nations, on whose territory the Games are being held. The Squamish, Lil'wat, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh are the host First Nations.
"We've been working on this for two or three years," said Asham.
"All the best athletes are there, and all the best coaches, and apparently culture is no different. That's what they call it, the best of the best in every category."
The Red River Jig is a blend of Scottish, French, Irish and First Nations influences -- and nearly resembles a polka step.
"The Red River Jig is like a double-step polka, just faster. Very, very fast," explained Asham.
You go 1-2-3 (heel-toe-heel) on one foot, then hop, then kick out your other planted foot.
"We're a 1-2-3 kick but there's a really special hop in there that's very difficult to get," said Asham. "The dance is very distinctive. It takes a long time to learn."
The dance was a prime form of entertainment after first contact between Europeans and aboriginals in this area. "It wasn't unusual for people to wear out a pair of moccasins in a night from dancing. They would party until dawn," said Asham.
Asham is also founder and president of Asham Curling Supplies. He has received numerous awards, including the Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award.
While at the Olympic Games, the dancers will be boarding in a school and using air mattresses and sleeping bags for beds.
The Asham Stompers will perform at the Four Host First Nations Pavilion on Feb. 15 at 2 p.m. The Manitoba Pavilion has also listed them to perform on Feb. 14 from 3-4 p.m. and 6-7 p.m.
bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 29, 2010 A8
-
WFP Hockey
Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates
-
Editor's Bulletin
Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand
-
Winnipeg Jets
All things NHL on our Jets landing page
-
Twitter
Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter
-
News Cafe
Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events
-
Facebook Fanpage
Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events
Ads by Google
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
Poll
Most Popular
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- RCMP receptionist told Stobbe wife was dead
- Search is on for man seen leaving the scene where two Alberta Mounties were shot
- City family donates $1 million for endowed research chair in cardiology
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
- Province rules out reports of cougar in Transcona
- RCMP receptionist told Stobbe wife dead
- US teen gets life in prison for killing 9-year-old; called the murder "pretty enjoyable"
- Steinbach booms to No. 3 city in province
- Should infants be allowed in the House of Commons?
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Three winning tickets sold for Friday's $50 million Lotto Max jackpot
- Woman sexually assaulted during noon-hour in Exchange District
- Woman's car stolen at gunpoint at St. Vital mall, police say
- Eleven people killed after truck hits van in southwestern Ontario
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Stobbe said slaying during shopping trip 'strange': sister-in-law
- Tactical squad storms St. Vital house
- Restaurant Dubrovnik may be closed for good
- Do you smoke marijuana?
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- George Clooney's prank could end Pitt's career
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Tina Maze strips down to her sports bra to send out underwear message: 'Not your business'
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Two children, two women die in fire
- Kate Beckinsale's weight fears over Underworld catsuit
- Tassimo brewers and espresso packages recalled amid rupture, burn concerns
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Fighting fire with knowledge
- Winnipeg software company ranked top employer
- Pardon application fee to quadruple later this month despite complaints
- OMG! Candy kings back at it
- Task force to review 2011 flood
- Flood reviews launched
- Our 'true champion'
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- Tassimo brewers and espresso packages recalled amid rupture, burn concerns
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
- Northern fishing lodge destroyed by fire
- Police target drivers talking on cellphones, texting
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Obama torn by conflicting allies
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Fighting fire with knowledge
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Paddler Starkell was modern-day voyageur
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Canadian woman 'badly injured' in Mexico, local media report apparent beating
- Winnipeg mother watches as car stolen with child inside
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- The cost of calories: It's expensive to eat healthily
- Popular cake can be kept on the go for days
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.