This article appeared in the Nov. 14 issue of the Interlake enterprise.
…By Teresa Carey
The NDP Constituency Association hosted an evening of entertainment at Poplarfield Hall, Nov. 3 that brought the legendary Ray St. Germain all the way there from Winnipeg. He arrived by bus with the Metis Club Golden Girls, loyal fans of St. Germain, with a passion for Metis dance. They were there, among the hundred or so others, to take in the first annual “Conchita Kowalski” show.
The Norman Chief Memorial Dancers were included in the lineup, headed by Kevin Chief, the MLA for Point Douglas, and Minister of Children and Youth Opportunities. Chief, who is good friends with St. Germain, has performed with him many times over the years. Also performing throughout the evening were the Gaudry Boys.
St. Germain opened the show with one of his many hit songs, “Conchita Kowalski”. It is a song about the mixing of cultures, in this case, Mexican and Ukrainian. It had been conceived in Poplarfield in the 1960s, after a conversation between St. Germain, a proud Metis, and Poplarfield musician, Paul Pododwarny, who himself is well known, particularly across the Interlake.
The word, “Metis” literally means “mixed blood,” St. Germain explained. Pododwarny argued that, if that was the case, anyone of mixed race should rightly be called Metis as well. So, the humour-infused song was born, becoming a number one hit in the 1960s.
After a warm welcome from MLA Tom Nevakshonoff, and an introduction by Kevin Chief about St. Germain’s accomplishments and a rundown of the Norman Chief Memorial Dancers, St. Germain delivered four numbers, and spiced up his performance with convincing impersonations of famous singers: Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, Hank Snow, Earnest Tubb, Wilf Carter, and Julio Iglesias. He concluded with a rendition of Pavorati.
The 72-year-old St. Germain, despite being a highly accomplished music industry icon with awards as long as both his sleeves, remains a humble man who holds his Metis roots close to his heart. Over his career, he has made time to perform at community events, seniors homes, children’s camps and workshops promoting Metis arts and culture.
St. Germain’s long and illustrious career began in the 1950s and continues to this day. He has made his mark in television and radio, and continues to host a weekend radio show. Some of St. Germain’s honours include Male Vocalist of the Year, Entertainer of the Year, Manitoba Aboriginal Hall of Famer for 2005, 2010 Canadian Country Music Hall of Honour inductee, in addition to many other honours and awards.
Plans are in the works to bring the “Conchita Kowalski” show to Poplarfield each November. This year’s tickets, which included lunch, sold for $15.
Next year Pododwarny it is expected to be included in the lineup. Pododwarny was unable to attend this time round due to a prior commitment.
