MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Metis fiddling instructor Patti Kusturok (left) and Indigenous Studies grad student Krysta Alexson at the University of Manitoba.

Winnipeg Free Press: U of M unique Métis fiddling course strikes a chord

November 27, 2024 —

When Krysta Alexson first picked up a fiddle in September, she hoped she would be able to play a tune by the end of the semester.

As she has progressed in the first-of-a-kind Métis fiddling class at the University of Manitoba school of music, she’s found the tunes are helping to carry her.

Alexson, a graduate student in Indigenous studies, said Tuesday that when she’s stuck writing her thesis on the inherent leadership systems of the Plains Cree, or feeling “a little off” after researching colonial records, she grabs her bow and draws it across the strings.

To read the entire story, please visit the link here with the Winnipeg Free Press.

Advancing Reconciliation and Promoting Indigenous Achievement, Metis Fiddling, School of Music

Jody Stark part of team of top Canadian researchers honoured for their transformative contributions to society

From enhancing cultural awareness in mental health for Indigenous populations, to applying lessons from Greek antiquity to modern democracies, to preserving the music and language of underrepresented groups, the winners of this year’s Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada’s (SSHRC) Impact Awards are shaping Canadian society in lasting ways.

Rhythm and Community: University of Manitoba Percussion Ensemble Takes Center Stage at “The Space Between”

Excitement is in the air as the University of Manitoba Percussion Ensemble prepares to showcase their talent at the upcoming conference “The Space Between,” hosted at Acadia University in beautiful Wolfville, NS. Invited by the Canadian Percussion Network, the ensemble will present their captivating session titled “Connecting the Threads: An Exploration in Community-Minded Rehearsal and Performance Processes.” This is not just an opportunity for performance; it’s a chance to dive deep into the essence of musical collaboration. Grouping the students in various quartets allows the students to explore a variety of musical, creative and leadership roles withing the traditional percussion quartet model.