Keeping culture alive: B.C. Indigenous couple inducted into Dance Hall of Fame

An IndigenousNorthern B.C. couple have beeninducted into the national Dance Hall of Fame in Toronto.

Margaret Harris and her late husband Ken Harrisare beinghonoured for the work they did in preserving North Coast Indigenous dance stylesdespite cultural bans.

"I was surprised.I'm honoured and I'm happy to be inducted," Margaret Harris told Daybreak North host Carolina de Ryk.

Traditional Indigenous dance was banned in Canada between 1884 and 1951,according to the Canadian Encyclopedia. The ban was an effort at assimilation bythe federal government.

But Indigenous dance style was kept alive.

Ken and Margaret Harris founded the Dancers of Damelahamid in Prince Rupert in the 1960s,shortly after the ban ended.

Harris is Cree and her husband was of theGitxsan First Nation in B.C.

Surviving the ban

Harris says it has long been important to her to preserve traditional Indigenous dance styles. During the ban, Harris says, she had to watch old reels of dancesand use pots and pans instead of drums.But it was her mother-in-lawwho taught her much of what she knows about dance practices.

"I knew in her heart she wanted to revive the culture. So I was willing and open to help her and my heart has always been with my people," said Harris.

Harris says the Dancers of Damelahamidtell stories, and there are morals to learn from them.

"I think that also helps me to bring healing to my people," she said.

The dance group is now led by the Harris'sdaughterMargaret Grenier.

When Grenierwas young, she didn't know the efforts her parents had gone through to keep the dancing styles alive.

"It wasn't until I was older and I was able to reflect more upon this that I really realized how much it had shaped who I am, my connection to my Indigenous identity, my connection to family, to community and to my home," said Grenier.

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With files fromDaybreak North.