In the Mackenzie Delta, the youth play second fiddle to nobody

A group of seven friends in Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic get together to play music for fun. Now, they’re taking the show on the road.

Fresh off the heels of a performance at the 42nd annual Athabascan Fiddlers Association Music Festival in Fairbanks, Alaska, youth from the Mackenzie Delta are bringing music wherever they go.

Fort McPherson’s Kiedyn Nerysoo, Gavin Francis, Brendan Vittrekwa and Tucker Gordon, as well as Tsiigehtchic’s Zody Kay and Ethan Koe, were commended for their performance in Fairbanks earlier this month by one of the festival’s board members, Becky Gallen.

“Seeing this group of young people come in that were respectful, that just set a good example for where they came from – we always want our kids to do that,” Gallen told Cabin Radio.

“You could just see the fun and enjoyment that they have when they’re there. I was really impressed with them.”

One of the performers, Ethan Koe, is a 16-year-old fiddler who learned to play his instrument by ear when he was 11. Now he’s following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, Charles Koe, a well-known fiddler in the area.

Tucker Gordon shares the same relative. His family says he, too, is helping to bring his great-grandfather’s music to life again.

“Seeing people dance brings happiness. You rarely see people dance any more,” Koe said. “It feels good.”

Gallen says she’s happy to see young people pick up the fiddle and keep the tradition alive, especially as many musicians in her region are passing on.

“It means a lot. I get so enthused when I see young people starting to learn how to do it and want to do it,” Gallen said, adding that it’s rare to find young musicians keen to learn old-time country songs.

“With the Fort McPherson group, they’re a very close-knit group and they’re able to do what they do, which is really neat to see.”

The annual fiddle festival is a highlight of the year, bringing together Indigenous residents from across the North, according to Gallen.

“People know about the festival because they love the music and they love to dance. The good thing is we get to see old friends, the Elders, they sit there from 1pm until midnight because I think it feeds their soul, it makes them feel good,” Gallen said.

“You have young people up to Elders that are coming to enjoy this event.”

Koe said he enjoyed performing at the festival in Alaska and hopes to have more opportunities to travel and share music. He has performed in his home community at dances and weddings as well as in Inuvik, Old Crow and Yellowknife.

Through all the excitement, Koe says one of his favourite things about playing music is spending time with his friends.

“I wouldn’t call it a band, I would call it a friend group … We all knew each other for a while, since we were kids,” Koe said.

“It’s pretty fun, especially travelling with the boys and having fun, checking out new places, jamming out, making new friends, making memories. All good.”