KEENAN OTCHINGWANIGAN
Crystal Falls, Michigan
Native Fiddling
Fourteen-year-old Keenan Otchingwanigan, the son of Christie and Earl Otchingwanigan, is carrying on a tradition of fiddling that has been a part of Great Lakes Native culture since its introduction by the French, Irish, and Scots in the 18th century. After the waning of the fur trade in the early 19th century, Native adaptation of the fiddle continued into lumber camps where many native men were employed. With eventual establishment of the Indian reservation system, these communities continued to incorporate the fiddle in the culture. However, After World War II, great change came, however, in the Great Lakes Indian communities and young people no longer seemed interested in carrying on the fiddle tradition. Save for a few elders, Native fiddling nearly faded from the scene. Fortunately in recent years, renewed fiddling interest has taken place within Native and Metis communities and Keenan is proud to be part of that revival.
An enrolled member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Indian Reservation in Wisconsin, Keenan has resided in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan the whole of his young life. He has only started taking fiddle and violin lessons at age 11 but by age 12, he made his fiddle debut at an event at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan. He since has played for Lac Courte Oreilles Indian School, Wisconsin; Michigan Native Summer Camp, Baraga and L'Anse area schools, Michigan; Forest Park Schools in Crystal Falls, Michigan; Michigan Folklife Jamboree and Michigan Folk Music Festival in Aura, Michigan; and Fortune Lake Folk Dance Series, Crystal Falls, Michigan. He has performed at many other Native events in Michigan and Wisconsin.
In 2005 he participated in the preeminent John Arcand 8th Annual Native Fiddle Festival in Saskatoon, Saskachewan and made an appearance in the Canadian Native fiddle documentary film "The Sharing Circle." In 2006 he was awarded 2nd place in the adult Native fiddling competition category at Milwaukee's Annual Indian Summer Fest. Keenan also plays dinner music at various supper clubs near his hometown and plays saxophone in Forest Park School band, Crystal Falls, Michigan.
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