By Michael Joel-Hansen

Young fiddler accomplished beyond his years

Jan 12, 2019 | 1:00 PM

Jordan Daniels is a 16 year old fiddler from Mistawasis First Nation who has achieved much on the fiddle scene despite his young age.

“It’s taken me a lot a places, I think the farthest it’s ever taken me is Vancouver … ya all over the place Alberta, B.C., all over Saskatchewan,” he told paNOW.

Daniels’ fiddle playing has not only taken him around Canada, but has also seen him recognized as one of the best young players in the province on multiple occasions.  

“I am the four-time Saskatchewan champion at the John Arcand Fiddle Fest,” he said.

He’s also been recognized as the best fiddler in his age group of 13 to 17.

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The young fiddler said he was honoured to hold these awards, as he has put in much work to get to where he is.

“I’ve worked really hard on the fiddle for a couple years now and it’s really nice to have something to show for it,” he said.

Daniels started playing the fiddle when he was 10 years old. He had grown up hearing stories about how his two great grandfathers also played the fiddle and the significance of it in Métis culture.  

“That’s really what inspired me to play, was them,” he said.

Daniels has been helped along on his musical quest by taking lessons from John Arcand, who is known as the “Master of the Métis Fiddle.” Daniels had heard about Arcand in the fiddle community and before taking lessons was nervous because he didn’t know what to expect.

“I was like wow, this guy’s a pretty big deal in the fiddling world,” he said.

Daniels had high praise for Arcand.

“If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be where I [am] today,” he said.

Daniels, plays other instruments including guitar, mandolin and banjo and plays sports like hockey and football.

But when it comes to his professional future he’s in no doubt about what he’d like to do.

“To do what John [Arcand] does,” he said.

With files from Brady Bateman

MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn