Not many spectators at this year's Riverboat Days parade may have realized that the overall prize winner, the Gingolx Majorettes and the Gingolx Concert Band, represents more than 100 years of tradition within the Nass Valley community.
The concert band was first formed in 1910 through the presence of missionaries in the village which is located at the mouth of the Nass River. The majorettes were formed in 1967.
Although the majorettes went on hiatus the concert band continued, establishing a strong presence at community and other events.
Prince Rupert also became a focal point for appearances because it was Gingolx's main service centre via ferry, ship and float plane until a road was built connecting the community with the rest of the Nass Valley in 2003.
It was not until 2021 that the Gingolx village government put out a call to re-establish the majorettes to make appearances at Seafest in Prince Rupert and Riverboat Days in Terrace.
"Each year, Gingolx commits to keeping our concert band and majorettes active as a part of community wellness," explained Gingolx education manager Renee Clayton who, with social development administrator Sheri Stewart and community relations director Michele Stevens, answered the call and revived the majorettes in 2022.
"We are educating the majorettes on accountability, the history of the Gingolx Concert Band, bringing the youth back into the community, supporting self-care, and personal hygiene," emphasized Clayton. "We are supporting the children’s self-esteem, confidence, and creating future leaders."
The Majorettes begin practices each May twice a week for two hours each time. Instructors Sinobo Watts and Larisa Watts are chiefly responsible for the choreography.
"You will notice we have older girls in there, which is really neat because we wanted to start this to build their confidence and leadership," said Clayton. "There are three leaders in the group, the cartwheel leader, then the leader at the front and the leader of the columns. So it is teaching them leadership skills and building their confidence.
The electric blue costumes worn by majorettes, the group now includes boys, were sewn by family members and the village government's community relations staff, replacing clothing that had been bought online.
"As the years went by we realized we needed uniforms," said Clayton.
Travel even to Terrace and Prince Rupert can be expensive when combined with hotels and meals. This year the majorettes raised $9,000 for the trip to take part in the Riverboat Days parade.
Many of the concert band members have been playing together for more than 30 years, said Clayton. That list includes Fred Doolan on coronet, Mercy Thomas on saxophone, Max Lincoln on bass drum, the Reverend Canon Harry Moore as bandmaster and Esther Trimble on trumpet.
It was not unusual for instruments to be handed down from one generation to the next until they simply became unusable, said Clayton.
A fire that destroyed the community hall in Gingolx also destroyed instruments which had been stored there.
This year the concert band was bolstered by musicians from the other Nass Valley villages of Gitlaxt’aamiks, Gitwinksihlkw and Laxgalts’ap.
When musicians from the four villages gather together, the group is known as the Majagaleehl Nisga'a band.
"We are very appreciative of Majagaleehl Nisga'a for joining our group this year," Clayton said. Majagaleehl, in Nisga'a, translates as 'Flower of the Nass Valley'.
The Gingolx Concert Band either by itself or as part of Majagaleehl Nisga'a, plays at weddings, funerals and at other occasions.
It has played at the Calgary Stampede and, in 2014, marched in the 2014 Grey Cup parade in Vancouver.
In 2016, Majagaleehl Nisga'a donated more than $12,000 to the Ksan Society and the Bread of Life Soup Kitchen to help support the local homeless population.
