Performances in Victoria Park highlight National Indigenous Peoples Day

Friday is National Indigenous Peoples Day. First celebrated in 1996, it’s a day of celebration and education about First Nations culture.

The celebrations will include drumming, dancing and musical performances in Victoria Park on Friday. The event will also feature First Nations cultural teachings, a tipi demonstration and Inuit games.

One of the performers hitting the park on Friday is Métis fiddler Joseph Desjarlais. The Île-à-la-Crosse performer said he’s been playing the fiddle for the past 11 years.

Video sent in by Joseph Desjarlais pic.twitter.com/uH2v7UdkpU

— Kaleb Sebastian (@KalebSebCJME) June 21, 2024

“A lot of the tunes are very traditional, so they’re passed down through generations and through the years. And, in keeping with traditional Indigenous traditions, a lot of them were passed down through ear,” said Desjarlais.

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He said Métis fiddling is almost exclusively learned through listening to others play. He said he’s only ever seen written music for the popular Red River Jig once.

“Everyone that I know who plays it has learned it by ear from somebody,” said Desjarlais. “Every time you learn something by ear, you don’t capture everything of the person who taught it to you, so you kind of have your own personal spin on it. And so, for as many Métis fiddle players as there are, there are that many Red River Jigs.”

This will be Desjarlais’ first time performing in Regina.

“I’m very excited,” he said.

“Fiddle sort of started out as a fun little hobby that’s become a very integral part of my personality.”

The performances are in Victoria Park begin at 10 a.m. and run until 1 p.m.