Swain’s Red River Jigs

Jimmy Swain served as a Métis head guide during the 1905 Treaty 9 expedition, drawing on deep knowledge of northern Ontario and western James Bay’s lands and waters. Born in northwestern Ontario, he later lived, worked, and married in the regions the treaty commissioners travelled through, making his experience central to the success of the journey.

Swain brought his fiddle along, using it to connect with fellow travelers by playing “far on in the night.” Around the camp, Swain played the Red River Jig, dance tunes, hymns, and the lively rhythms long associated with Métis gatherings across the Homeland. 

Commissioner Samuel Stewart’s journal recalled one of Swain’s performances: “With this he laid himself out to entertain both whites and Indians by playing Red River jigs, and other dance music…”

Swain’s playing brought people together through rhythm, familiarity, and enjoyment. In this way, his skill as a musician strengthened the relationships that helped carry the travelling party through each day of the challenging journey.

See Our Sources

• "The James Bay Treaty 9. Places visited by the Commissioners, Summer of 1905"

• Abitibi Inland Métis Community’s Submission to the MNC Expert Panel

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