NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY | 15
SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022
“We’re excited to be onstage. We have some really cool things that we’re working on and we’re working with DJ Kookum,” says Harris. All three were born in Winnipeg and the family hails from Ebb and Flow First Nation on Treaty 1 territory. Growing up, the dancers had role models close to home.
“In 2012, he passed away suddenly, and for us that was really, really, really, tough.” They changed their name to the Ivan Flett Memorial Dancers. “Every show, and everything we do, is in honour of him,” he says.
Their grandmother is also an indispensable and much admired support. “Our great, amazing grandmother Dawn Flett custom makes all of our beautiful outfits,” says Harris.
‘Designs by Dawn.’ She’s on her own on level and she has inspired other designers to create the way she does.” The Harris siblings excel at the Red River Jig, a mix of First Nations dancing, French, Scottish and Irish stepping. And since the dance came out of a blending of cultures, there is an artful logic in Harris’ fusion of the traditional jig and contemporary hip hop — a signature style they showed off on Canada’s Got Talent (2022). Harris discovered he had a knack for hip hop in high school. “I put some of our fastest jigging steps together with some of
“The designs are all by her — that’s her little slogan
“When I was just a little guy, I saw my auntie performing with the Asham Stompers. I was really fascinated by it and I asked her to teach me. Jake and I learned right in her living room, every week,” says Mikey Harris. Cieanna was right behind them.
The siblings soon joined the Asham Stompers, dancing professionally in as many as 100 shows a year,
these rap songs and that’s how it started,” he says, The youthful members of their audience love it.
including the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. They also formed their own troupe: The
Slick and Lil Jay Show featuring Cieanna. All this was accomplished
“We start off with the traditional Red River Jig music — and the kids
think it’s cool — and then we switch it over to the hip-hop
with the full, loving support of their grandparents and parents. “Our grandfather, Ivan Flett, was the one who was kind of our rock,” says Harris.
music and, of course, they’re really engaged,” says Harris.
Once they have their attention, the dancers can teach the history and tradition behind the jig.
> continued on page 16
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