First Nations Dance Troupe at Manito Ahbee Pow Wow, Winnipeg

Brian Clyne Demonstrates Hoop Dancing at Manito Ahbee in Winnipeg, MB (Canada).

Over my right shoulder. Over my left shoulder. Over my head. Then flip the hoops over and spread them like wings. This was my first attempt at First Nations hoop dancing and I was feeling pretty good about it.

I’m in Winnipeg, Manitoba to learn about aboriginal dancing at the Manito Ahbee Pow Wow. I decided to attend one of the school educational programs on the first day of the event and chose the cultural dancing workshop.

The SummerBear Dance Troupe was putting on their workshop headed by the founder, Barbara Nepinak, singer and drummers Chuck Spence and Paul Duck, and hoop dancer Brian Clyne. In all the research I’ve done so far, I had yet to see hoop dancing (actually, I did see a performance at the Calgary Stampede a couple of years ago, but that show’s just on a whole other level and I was pretty far away from the stage).

This time, Brian performed for us after a very inspiring talk to the approximately 75 students, in a tiny little conference room about five feet in front of me (see video below). Best of all, some of us got to try hoop dancing for ourselves.

Brian taught many of us the very basic eagle, using three or five hoops. I threw one hoop over each shoulder, one around my neck and then pulled them all over my head. The other hoops, one in each hand, then made the eagle’s wings spread further.

First Nations Hoop Dancer Brian Clyne of SummerBear Dance Troupe in Winnipeg, MB (Canada).

Hoop dancers are healers and we were told they can spin sickness into the hoops from someone else. I don’t think I got anywhere neat that point, but with Chuck and Paul drumming and singing, I sure was honoured to be allowed to try.

What I Liked:

• The SummerBear Dance Troupe has represented Canada’s First Nations people in countries like the US, Australia and Malaysia. They range in age from four years old and up.
• Brian Clyne is an amazing hoop dancer who also has a knack for inspiring public speaking.
• What a great idea the educational portion of the pow wow is. Students get to go from workshop to workshop all day learning different aspects of First Nations culture. There’s throat singing, healing medicine, music, etc.