Country fans pack Garden River hall

January 15, 2014
Square dancers – including Judy Syrette and Alice Corbiere, foreground, enjoy themselves at the Classic Country Sundays Holiday Festival in Garden River.
Square dancers – including Judy Syrette and Alice Corbiere, foreground, enjoy themselves at the Classic Country Sundays Holiday Festival in Garden River.

By Margaret Hele

GARDEN RIVER FN – For over a year now, First Nation fans of country music have had a monthly place to tap their feet.

The Christmas version of Classic Country Sundays  drew over 150 to Garden River’s Recreation Centre from as far away as Wikewemikong and Peshawbestown near Traverse City, Michigan.

Headline entertainers were Cheyenne Saucier, backed up by her dad and three Brothers, and acclaimed fiddle player Ruby John and the Stumpy Coldwater Trio.

“Ruby said she wanted to be a fiddle player at the age of four,” said mother Cyndi. “At 11 we were able to send her to fiddle lessons.”

Local performers included singer Evelyn Richards, accompanied on the guitar by son Wayne, and familiar First Nation singers Hank Schryer, Eva Olar, Mike Lanus, Ivy Pelletier, George Trudeau and Hardy Pelletier.

Participants in their 90s were among the dance pairs, and caller Ellis MacDonald, put the square dancers through their paces.

“These events bring joy to the elders and to our community,” said Liz Jones.

A smorgasbord supper capped off the Christmas version of Classic Country Sunday, which was first staged by the First Nation and Sault Ste. Marie Indian Friendship Centre in November 2012. The event is now organized at the Garden River Recreation Centre by Dan Jones and volunteers.