Baby Bump

Isn't she cute?

Folklorama: Métis Pavilion

The Métis are a people descended of marriages of Cree, Ojibway, Algonquin, Saulteaux, Menominee, Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, and other First Nations to Europeans, mainly French. From the European blood came fiddle music, jigging, and square dancing, all of which are still a very important part of Métis culture. The video above features Clint Dutiamume on fiddle.

Foods available at this pavilion were bison stew, buffalo burgers, fried bannock, a traditional meat pie called touitiere, and what Mr. Fiddler refers to as "indian tacos" (although I'm quite sure they have a more politically correct name for it).

This was Shiloh's favorite pavilion. This is his kind of music, judging by the all clapping, cheering, and singing coming from his chair.

Folklorama: Russian Pavilion

This is probably my favorite pavilion, simply because it features music by Limpopo. This upbeat band has it's origins in Moscow, and has been performing since 1986. The group toured the former Soviet Union performing in some of it's most famous theaters. In 1991, Limpopo performed in the States as a four-member folk and comedy troupe. They were very successful performing for audiences of all ages across Canada and the United States at music and comedy festivals.

Listen to the clips above to hear such traditional Russian favorites as, "When My Dear Mother Was Send Me Off to the Army", "Boots Filled Up With Money All the Way", and the great Russian love song, "You Let Me Down". If you like their music, you can find other performances on Youtube, or on their website.

Shiloh didn't much care for this pavilion, due to our close proximity to the sound system. He is frightened by loud noises and accordions, so this turned out to be a bit of a hair-raising experience for him. You may hear him making alarmed noises at different points during the performance.

Folklorama

It's that time of year again -- Folklorama kicked off last night at the Forks in Winnipeg. Here's an excerpt from Wikipedia, explaining what it is:

Folklorama is an event that runs for two weeks each August in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Folklorama is the largest and longest-running festival of its kind in the world (acknowledged by the International Council of Organizations for Folklore Festivals and Folk Art, also known as CIOFF). Visitors to the festival are invited to sample exotic cuisine and celebrate the cultural and ethnic heritage of people from dozens of countries who have made Winnipeg their home. Typically there are 40 to 45 pavilions presented, with half operating in week one and half in week two of the festival. Each country has an assigned venue, known as a pavilion. These pavilions are located throughout the city. Each pavilion presents a show featuring the song and dance of their culture, along with trademark ethnic cuisine and a cultural display. Many pavilions provide additional interactive components, such as having henna tattoos applied, or sell souvenirs and crafts to take home. Folklorama provides exposure to cultural groups and brings in thousands of tourists each year, adding to the city's economy. The Folk Arts Council of Winnipeg is the organizing body of Folklorama.

Look for pictures and video of Folklorama as we visit pavilions in the coming week. If you'd like us to visit a specific pavilion and make it the subject of a post, check out the Folklorama 2009 Travel Guide and let us know.