There will be plenty of pickin’ and grinnin’ in Cochrane during Alberta Culture Days, as the Nakoda-Cochrane Pickin’ Party Music Jam will be celebrating its 10th anniversary.
The party will take place Sept. 27 from 1 - 4 p.m. at Centennial Square on Main Street. The jam will kick off with traditional First Nations drumming and will finish with a round dance.
Gary Lefebvre is a committee member for the Pickin’ Party and owner of Phantoms Music in Cochrane. He has been part of nine of the 10 jams that have happened both in Cochrane and the Stoney Nakoda Nation and said that each year has special memories for him.
“It’s the idea of getting two communities together through music. The Nakoda and Cochrane people can get to know each other better,” said Lefebvre. “That was the whole idea. That’s how it started 10 years ago.”
Lefebvre said there is no set-list or set times for performances and it is done on a first-come, first-serve basis. He said you simply get on the stage, you do what you want and you play for people. “It is a great day of picking and grinning and talking and having fun,” he said with a laugh.
One of the most important parts of the jam according to Lefebvre is the connection made between the people of Cochrane and Stoney Nation. He said music is the universal language and that is a big part of the jam.
“People need to open their eyes that everybody has a place on this earth. We all have a job to do and everybody has a responsibility to help everybody. I just believe that,” Lefebvre said. “There is a lot of sad stuff happening in the world today and this is promoting peace and happiness and brotherhood.”
Those who are interested in being a part of the jam can contact Lefebvre at 403-851-1273 or Stoney Nakoda Administration at 403-851-2669.
