The Metis Cart

What is this?

It is a Red River Cart or some would know it as the Metis Cart. The Red River cart was a mode of transportation used by Métis people in the Prairies during the settlement of the West in the mid- to late-1800s to carry loads across distances. The name of the cart derives from the Red River, along which the Red River Colony (1812–70), inhabited mainly by Métis peoples, was settled. The Métis had their own Michif words for the cart, including aen wagon and aen charet.

Who is the Metis nation?

 "The Metis nation and culture began when the early European fur traders and First Nations created families to form new Indigenous communities.  There are stories of Metis using their small horses for logging and for pulling sleds as their communities moved from season to season.  Then later on, they started to use the Red River carts with their big wheels.  But wherever the Metis traveled, there was music and dancing." - Alison Cox, Elder

The Metis Cart is a medley of two songs.  The first is Ants, Mosquitos, and Snowball Fricasse.  It is a French Metis song that is traditionally sung to children by elders.  The second is Wigwam Polka by Andy DeJarlis.  The piece is high energy and joyful, capturing the spirit of the Metis music and dance.

The Metis Cart by Kevin Lau (performed by the WSO)

The Metis Cart song has a form or pattern to it.  Listen the song to discover the form and patterns.

Intro A A A A A*      Bridge    B C B Coda

(Ants, Mosquitos...)                        (Wigwam Polka)

Here is the first song in the music.  Listen for the words.  What language is this?  This song was traditionally sung to children by an adult. 

Ants, Mosquitos, and Snowball Fricasse

Let's keep the beat as we listen to this song.

Here is the dance to the first song from the WSO recording (see above to practice with the WSO music):

Here is the second song you will hear in the WSO music.

Wigwam Polka

Identify the Major and minor melodies of this song.  Listen to the music and how it changes in sound quality based on a set of notes that are used to create them.  The set of notes is called a scale.  One melody is minor in which the music will sound dark and maybe a bit sad.  The Major melody will sound bright and happy.

GAME: sit down with the music is minor sounding and stand up with the music is Major.

Play this game.  Can you identify if it's Major or minor?