June 21 was a busy day for Métis jigger Courtney Anaquod who performed in Regina’s Victoria Park where National Aboriginal Day celebrations were in full swing.

The smiles on peoples’ faces told Anaquod she was doing her job right.

“As long as I see the crowd happy with my performance, I’m happy,” she said. “I’m a different person, when I dance it comes from the heart, and I connect with our elders and especially the loved ones who have passed on.”

After a grand entry with opening remarks from Elder Norma-Jean Byrd and Mayor Michael Fougere, Anaquod, followed by Regina hip-hop artist Brad Bellegarde, performed in the main tent. The Charging Bear Powwow Dancers were next with men’s and women’s traditional and fancy dances.

Anaquod, 30, who is from Muscowpetung Saulteaux First Nation, showed her talent with some pretty fast footwork, which apparently is even harder on grass. She came down from Fort McMurray to dance in the celebrations and dedicated each performance to her kookum, who was a champion jigger in Batoche.

“She was my inspiration,” she said. “I took on that title and carry it highly in my family as I’m the only one left with that tradition,“ she said. “I am passing it down to my daughter as my daughter is a champion jigger as well.”

Anaquod, who has been jigging for 22 years, said the most challenging thing about it is learning contemporary steps, which are more complicated.

“If you practice everyday, you can nail them and that’s what I try to do,” she said.

But for Anaquod the day wasn’t just about dancing for the crowd. Her Auntie Marlene Kaisowatum, who Anaquod says is exactly like her kookum, came to watch her, despite being ill for some time.

“When I ran up to her while she was sitting in her wheelchair [and I said], ‘Auntie, you’re here’, I could see her tears in her eyes. She calls me her baby and I have that connection with her and it gives me that sense of power with my kookum,” said Anaquod.

Kaisowatum said Anaquod’s dancing filled her with joy.

“She’s done well, very well, and I’m so proud of her. I could look at her and just about cry, you know, how happy it makes me to see her dance. She’s done us proud today,” said Kaisowatum.

Anaquod looks forward to the day when she is an Elder and looks on as the youth carry on the tradition of jigging.

“But who knows, I’ll still be dancing when I’m 60,” she laughed.

Anaquod’s dancing schedule isn’t slowing down. She’ll be performing at the Saskatchewan Legislature on July 1 for Canada Day.