Jackson Beardy III, 13, is from Wasagamack First Nation in the Island Lake region of Northern Manitoba, Canada and is the son of proud parents Byron and Delores. When Jackson was 4 years old, veteran and world-renowned Hoop Dancers, Melvin Starr and/or Bruce Fontaine, saw that whenever they were performing, Jackson would sit there and watch with much interest and amazement. Upon finishing their performances, Jackson would approach Melvin or Bruce to ask questions, he would then ask if he could try to do a trick or two. One time when Bruce was visiting the Beardy family in Wasagamack, he asked young Jackson, “Are you going to grow up like your dad?” "No, I want to be like you” Jackson replied. The hoop dance is an ancient healing dance from the American Southwest, where a dancer uses hoops to imitate nature and life forms. It is said that the dancers, when making a shape or design, get energy from the shape as it passes through their body. The hoop dancer will make shapes of an eagle or a turtle or from nature. Hoop dancers also use the hoops to tell a story about creation or their life experiences.

Melvin saw that Jackson was gifted and talented. In the fall of 2000, when Jackson was 6 years old and after talking with Jackson’s father, Melvin & Byron made arrangements for Jackson to travel from Wasagamack First Nation to Winnipeg to pick up his first set of 5 hoops. “I still remember the expression on Jackson’s face when Melvin handed Jackson his hoops. His mouth just dropped,” said Byron. After Jackson offered his tobacco for the hoops, Melvin proceeded to talk to the young Jackson about what he received. He said that the hoops were going to take him places and would help him in life. “Remember who you are and where you come from’, said Melvin, ‘and these hoops are not toys. Respect them and they will help you and whoever you dance for.”

Upon arriving back home Jackson and his dad attended a sweat lodge ceremony to receive blessings and teachings of the hoops. This was Jackson’s first time entering a sweat lodge. As the months passed, Jackson picked up his hoops to try different tricks and would ask his dad a lot of questions about the eagle, the grass, the turtle, mother earth, the butterflies and the sweat lodge ceremony. Jackson started to learn about the traditional ways and his surroundings at a young age. “I remember when Jackson used to set up my morning smudges”, said Byron. Every morning he would place everything where they needed to be and then pass me the match to light the smudge and we’d say our prayers, then smudge”. The Beardy family moved to Winnipeg in the spring of 2002 where Jackson later met with his hoop dance teacher. Melvin told Byron and Jackson that he was teaching a group of young boys to hoop dance and that he would like to have Jackson come in with these boys. Jackson was then in training, with 5 other boys, to dance with 15 hoops in a synchronized routine. These boys were in a program called Opikiwaywin, from New Directions. The boys practiced and trained for about a year as they were to perform for the first time in public at the University of Manitoba’s Traditional Graduation Pow-Wow. During practice sessions, Jackson’s dad would be there with other parents designing and making their respective boy’s outfits. In the winter of 2003, Jackson went to another sweat lodge ceremony to receive his spiritual name and his colors. The name given to him was “Ma-ka-te-oo Ma-hin-gun A-we-zenz” or “Black Wolf Boy” and his colors would be the 5 colors of the rainbow: blue, green, yellow, orange and red. You can see the colors of the rainbow on Jackson’s hoop dance outfit and also the young black wolf on his breach cloth (apron). He also has these colors represented in his hoops. Jackson received assistance from Four Arrows Regional Health Authority for his regalia and hoop supplies with his dad making his hoops and the regalia (sewing), from head to toe, including all the beadwork.

In April of 2003, the boys’ outfits were done and were preparing for their debut. They held a feast and giveaway for family and friends to bless and dance with their outfits for the first time. It was at this time that the name ‘CALL to the FUTURE’ hoop dancers were given to the boys. The big day came where Jackson and the boys had to dance in front of hundreds of people and the cameras. It was the 3rd of May 2003, and Jackson was looking forward to dancing in front of these people and dignitaries. “Dad, there’s lots of people here’, said Jackson as he looked around the packed auditorium, ‘I’m scared.” “Ah, you’ll be alright,” his dad replied. There was a camera following Jackson and the boys as they were being highlighted on the APTN National News and on the CBC Evening News. The boys were inducted into the hoop dancing circle by 3 veteran hoop dancers: Melvin Starr, George Bear and Brian Campbell. Their dance routine lasted about 20 minutes, dancing with 15 hoops, picking them up one at a time. It was quite an emotional moment for all parents, family members and especially the teacher. When the routine was done the boys received a standing ovation. From then on these boys were requested to dance at different pow-wows, workshops, conferences, fundraisers, schools, and organizations.

Jackson and his dad traveled throughout the summer of 2003 from Northwestern Ontario, Saskatchewan, the United States and most of Manitoba. While the boys still perform together, Jackson and Byron do workshop presentations and/or performances for schools, drop-in centers, clubs, conferences, pow wows and local, national and international gatherings. Since his debut, Jackson has continued to practice and has added more hoops to his routine. Currently, Jackson dances with as many as 26 hoops and he and his dad tell their story through his hoop dance routine. When doing their presentations, titled ‘Dancing for my Father, Singing for my Son’, Jackson talks about his traditional journey and how hoop dancing has enhanced his life and his relationship with his father. While his dad talks about his personal journey too, he discusses how he, as a young man, never had a close relationship with his late father. “I was never close to my late father and I didn’t want my son to grow up the way I did”, said his father. “My mother and father separated when I was very young. Not having a father figure within the household made things difficult at times and I had to grow up real fast” he continued. “I am real proud of Jackson’s accomplishments and I think it’s a reflection of our close bond and although my relationship with my late father is not all negative, the determination of my late father’s legacy, I think it is helping”, said Byron. Jackson and Byron’s workshop is interactive. They talk about their personal journeys, travels, relationship, then do a hoop dance demonstration and finish off with Jackson showing participants some different designs. Byron sings hand drum songs for his son’s hoop dance performances and also sings traditional songs.

Jackson’s grandfather and Byron’s father, the late Jackson Beardy (1944-1984), was a world renowned Woodlands artist. He was a member of the original group of seven artists which included the likes of D. Odjig, N. Morriseau, E. Cobiness and C. Rae. The late Jackson’s works are sought after and can be found in public places and private collections throughout the country and abroad.

In the winter of 2004 and 2005, Jackson participated at the World Championship Hoop Dance Contest in Phoenix, Arizona USA. Although, he didn’t come home with the championship, he finished respectably. “I will keep going until I bring back the championship trophy”, he said jokingly. “I don’t think it’s about winning but doing your best. I really enjoyed seeing and meeting other hoop dancers from all over North America and then, seeing them again the following year was a bonus.(see my pics) It’s like having another family. I have hoop dancer friends from across North America and bumping into them in the Pow Wow circuit is great. Some hoop dancers my age, both male and female, have turned out to be really close friends and we keep in touch using the internet”.