Métis fiddler continues tradition at Festival since he was 8

The fiddler was easy to spot, trudging with his fiddle case through bonfire smoke and the fog created by his own frozen breath. It was the bright red capote — the traditional winter coat of the voyageurs — that made him stand out.

This was no re-enactor playing a voyageur stopping off at the historic Fort Gibraltar in 1812, it was Lorette musician Alexandre Tétrault headed to the tent reserved for artists after playing an outdoor set at Festival du Voyageur.

Tétrault could serve as a guide for Festival visitors. He explained how he has played here for 14 years — since he was eight years old — no matter the weather.

“Being French Canadian and Métis, this is a festival that represents and celebrates our heritage. There’s that little extra something special when you come play at the Festival du Voyageur, so it gives you that extra boost to brave the -35C,” said Tétrault.

That pride in his heritage came through the generations.

His capote and beaded leather octopus bag were made by his mother, a director at Manitoba’s historic resources branch. His grandmother Michelle Lagimodière advocated to have French schools in Manitoba in the 1970s and ‘80s, leading to the restoration of French language rights in the ‘80s and the formation of the Franco-Manitoban School Division (DSFM) in 1994.

“We’ve always been proud to be Métis. There’s a lot of folks that didn’t have the privilege of growing up and to be proud of their culture.

“In my family it was always something we talked about, always something we celebrated. And during the month of February we’d always come out to Festival,” said Tétrault.

There was also the Auberge du Violion organized by Union nationale métisse Saint-Joseph du Manitoba, where Tétrault has also played every year on Louis Riel Day. The holiday was created right around when a three-year-old Tétrault first picked up a fiddle.

“Traditional old-time dances is something that’s slowly dying, but we have a pleasure of hosting one every year in the basement of the cathedral in St Boniface,” said Tétrault.

That desire to keep the traditional fires burning and sharing it with the next generation is not limited to Tétrault’s grandmother and mother. He himself has been going to schools across Canada the last two-and-a-half years to teach French Canadian and Metis culture and music with Rob Malo, known by his jigging stage name TiBert.

The pair also go to pre-schools, retirement homes, and festivals to spread the traditions with a modern twist.

“I also bring my DJ set, my spin tables. I mix the traditional with the modern and we go into a dance party mode,” explained Tétrault.

His DJ name is Douzie, a nickname he earned when a toddler. It evolved from the French word doucement means gently, something his mom had to say often.

Tétrault is now living in Montreal as he attends school to become a better studio producer. But he still makes a point of coming back to Festival.

He is bringing his fiddle to the terrasse à chansons at Festival again for his last set this Saturday at 1 p.m. The forecast is for much warmer weather and a lot of jigging.