University of Manitoba offers traditional Mtis fiddling through music faculty [Video]

North American Fiddlers’ Hall of Fame member Patti Kusturok recently added university instructor to her long list of accomplishments. 

Kusturok is leading a new Métis fiddling course at the Desautels Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, launched at the beginning of the fall semester.

“The fiddle is the heart of the Métis culture,” Kusturok said.

“As far as music and community what I’m trying to do, and I’ve always tried to do, is build a community based around the fiddle.” 

Kusturok is Red River Métis and hopes to connect students to the music and culture of traditional fiddling.

The course comes as a part of a reconciliation strategy that aims to include Indigenous knowledge in the university’s curriculum outside of Indigenous Studies.

Melody McKiver, an assistant professor and part of …