Athabaskan fiddle

Fiddles were introduced in this area by Scottish, Irish, French Canadian, and Métis fur traders of the Hudson's Bay Company in the mid-19th century.

Athabaskan fiddle music is most popular genre in Alaska and northwest Canada and featuring Gwich'in Bill Stevens (b.

[2] Athabaskan old-time fiddling music represents a fusion of traditional Athabascan instrumental and vocal music with the songs and violin tunes brought to the region in the late 1840s by Hudson Bay Company traders from their homelands in Scotland, Ireland, the Orkney Islands and French Canada.

The gold rush such as the Klondike (1896–1899) of Canada and Nome (1899–1909) and Fairbanks (1902–1905) of Alaska in the latter days of the 19th century and early 20th century saw another wave of musical influences as the prospectors' waltzes, jigs, schottisches, foxtrots, two steps, and square dances (running sets) were incorporated into this unique musical style.

[8] In Athabaskan communities fiddle music is an integral part of social events such as potlatches, dances and holiday celebrations.

Ethnicities of the approximately forty children participating each year include Athabaskan, Yup'ik, Iñupiaq and other American Indian.

Funded by grants, community support, and fundraisers, Young Native Fiddlers offers individual, weekly violin or guitar lessons to children aged 5–18.

Young Native Fiddlers was originally started as a teacher action research project, until a critical event signaled that greater involvement of members of this YNF community was needed.