JAMES BAY FIDDLE

EEYOU MUSIC AND DANCE TRADITIONS
JAMES BAY, CANADA

Since 2011, Frances has been working on various projects exploring Eeyou music and dance traditions in the James Bay region and their historical and musical connections to Scotland via connections with the Hudson's Bay Company from the late 1600s.

She has visited and conducted fieldwork in the region in Wemindji, Waskaganish, Chisasibi, Mistissini, Ouje-Bougoumou, Moose Factory and Moosonee.

8 years - 50 CONTRIBUTORS - 50 TUNES

Introductory film

This two-minute film, made by Frances Wilkins in 2014, gives a taste of fiddle-dancing in the James Bay region of Ontario and Québec.

  • An elderly man playing a fiddle, wearing a striped blue shirt, sitting in a room with a text overlay about the Cree Fiddlers of James Bay.

    Photographic Exhibition Panels

    Explore Frances’ photographic exhibition, ‘The Cree Fiddlers of James Bay’, and learn more about the musicians and dancers of the region. The exhibition toured in Aberdeen, Derry and Wemindji (Québec) in 2012.

    View Gallery
  • Three people in a music studio with soundproofed walls. The man on the left holds a violin, the woman in the middle holds a small accordion, and the man on the right holds an acoustic guitar. They are smiling at the camera.

    Moose Factory Photos

    Visit Frances' photo gallery from her research into fiddle and dance traditions of James Bay and their historical connections with Scotland through the fur trade.

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  • A group of children and musicians performing on stage under colorful stage lighting. The children are singing or acting, with one girl wearing a patterned dress and other children in casual clothes. Musicians are playing guitars and violin, with drums and amplifiers in the background.

    Eeyou Istchee Photos

    Visit Frances' photo gallery from her research into fiddle and dance traditions of James Bay and their historical connections with Scotland through the fur trade.

    View Gallery
  • A black and white photo of seven people standing outdoors in winter clothing, with a snow-covered landscape in the background. Four adults and three children.

    Archive Photo Gallery

    Visit Frances' photo gallery from her research into fiddle and dance traditions of James Bay and their historical connections with Scotland through the fur trade.

    View Gallery
  • Three elderly men sitting on chairs playing musical instruments: the first man is playing an acoustic guitar, the second man is playing a violin, and the third man is also playing a violin. Water bottles are placed on the floor near their chairs.

    Publications

    Find out more about articles, book chapters, and other writing by Frances on her research.

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  • Group of people dancing and socializing in an indoor hall, some seated in the background.

    Introductory Film

    This two-minute film, made by Frances Wilkins in 2014, gives a taste of fiddle-dancing in the James Bay region of Ontario and Québec.

    Watch Film
  • An elderly woman with glasses and dark hair playing a large drum with drumsticks, sitting next to an elderly man with a violin, wearing a hat, in a cozy room with decorations and a red wall hanging.

    Film

    Frances Wilkins talks about her research into James Bay fiddle music, filmed as part of the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention in Cape Breton, October 2015.

    Watch Film
  • Museum exhibit displaying a photograph of three people, including two elderly men and a woman, with one man playing violin and another playing drum, captioned as James, Daisy, and Treena Cheechoo at Moose Factory in January 2014.

    Nimitaau Exhibition Photos

    Learn more about the interactive touring exhibition, Nimitaau | Let’s Dance: Fiddle-Dancing Through Scots and Eeyou Culture.

    View Gallery
  • Poster for 'Nimitaau Let's Dance' event, featuring a stylized guitar and violin graphic, black and teal color scheme, with photos of traditional dancers and musicians, event details from July 11 to September 30, 2018, at the Sir Duncan Rice Library, University of Aberdeen.

    Nimitaau Exhibition Panels

    View the panel designs from the interactive touring exhibition, Nimitaau | Let’s Dance: Fiddle-Dancing Through Scots and Eeyou Culture.

    View Gallery
  • A woman with long blonde hair wearing glasses on her head speaking into a microphone while looking at a sheet of paper, standing near a black piano in a room with gray walls.

    Talks

    Frances Wilkins regularly gives talks on her research. Find out more and book her for your event here.

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  • Two people walking through deep snow on a winter day towards a small white church with a steeple topped by a cross, under a partly cloudy sky.

    Blog

    Gain an insight into Frances’ research journey through her blog. Started in 2011, Frances has used this to keep people updated on her fieldwork visits to James Bay and the people she has met as part of her research.

    Visit Blog

Funded by

Royal Society of Edinburgh
Foundation for Canadian Studies in the United Kingdom
Wemindji Cultural Department
University of Aberdeen