10:00AM | MÉTIS JIG PERFORMANCE – PRAIRIE FIRE
Prairie Fire is a fun family dance group that started out as Jaime and the Jiglets with their mother, artist Jaime Koebel. Prairie Fire is a lively and interactive group that also aims to teach audiences about Métis culture and the joy of the jig.

11:00AM | WORLD CHAMPION HOOP DANCER SCOTT SINQUAH
2023 Heard Hoop Dance Contest Adult World Champion – Scott Sinquah. The art of hoop dance honors cultural traditions shared by multiple Indigenous communities. With roots in healing ceremonies, traditions and practices, today hoop dance is shared as an artistic expression to celebrate and honor Indigenous traditions throughout the U.S. and Canada.

11:30AM | FIDDLEGROUND WITH MÉTIS DANCER BRAD LAFORTUNE
Brad Lafortune is Métis originally from Sudbury, Ontario. Brad began jigging at a young age and started providing workshops and performances in 2009 upon moving to Ottawa. Brad studied at the University of Ottawa where he received his Bachelor of Science followed by a Master’s of Physiotherapy. Brad enjoys combining his passion for physical activity and wellbeing with a deep love and understanding of his culture. Brad believes jigging is an interactive way to physically engage individuals of any age, all the while learning about the intricacies of Métis culture.

1:30PM | INUIT GAMES
Born in St. John’s, NL, raised in Ottawa, ON, Aalla (Stranger) has spent more than a decade demonstrating and teaching traditional Inuit games. If your child attends school in Ottawa, it’s more than likely that Aalla has taught their class about the Inuit culture. Aalla will be joined by his son, who has inherited his father’s passion for teaching games to anyone who is willing to learn.

2:00PM | FIDDLEGROUND WITH MÉTIS DANCER BRAD LAFORTUNE
Brad Lafortune is Métis originally from Sudbury, Ontario. Brad began jigging at a young age and started providing workshops and performances in 2009 upon moving to Ottawa. Brad studied at the University of Ottawa where he received his Bachelor of Science followed by a Master’s of Physiotherapy. Brad enjoys combining his passion for physical activity and wellbeing with a deep love and understanding of his culture. Brad believes jigging is an interactive way to physically engage individuals of any age, all the while learning about the intricacies of Métis culture.

3:00PM | OMÉIGWESSI ENSEMBLE
Originally from Winnipeg, the Delbaere-Sawchuk family calls Tkaronto home. They have played across Turtle Island, from the Vancouver Olympics, to the Smithsonian in Washington. They are committed to promoting and celebrating Métis music and culture. Oméigwessi [Oh-may-EEG-whe -say] is a nickname given to people of Ukranian ancestry by the Ojibwe community of Treaty 2. Drawing upon her Red River Métis, Franco-Manitoban and Ukrainian ancestry, Alyssa created and leads Oméigwessi.

3:45PM | AMANDA RHEAUME
Amanda Rheaume’s rootsy, guitar-driven ballads introduce crucial dimensions to the world of Heartland Rock. A Citizen of the Métis Nation, and an active and proud member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, Rheaume’s music is indeed from the heart and from the land. First a songwriter, Rheaume comes from a long line of tireless, transformational organizers and activists and carries this lineage forward in her ever-growing role as a crucial builder of Indigenous music community. From the International Music Summit to the newly-founded Ishkode Records and the National Indigenous Music Office, the goal of raising Indigenous sovereignty in the music industry drives all of Amanda’s work. She has released 5 full length albums over 15 years resulting in JUNO and SSIMA nominations and Canadian Folk Music awards.