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RADILIH KOE'/FORT GOOD HOPE - Fort Good Hope fiddler Thomas Manuel has seen a lot of changes in his 75 years. He said things are better now in some ways, but not in others.

"Times have changed. I was brought up when people didn't have a dollar in their pocket, but they were the happiest people," he said.

Manuel is famous throughout the territory for his fiddling skills. Although he has been busy cutting and hauling firewood out on the ice road, he still found time for some gigs this winter.

"I played over at Norman Wells in between Christmas and New Year's," he said.

Manuel said there was an energy in the crowd that he has not seen in many years. He said the musicians all feed off the energy in the crowd. A lively audience can make for a better show.

"It makes the band and musicians happier with the way people in Norman Wells are so active," he said

Manuel said he is just one in a long line of fiddlers from Fort Good Hope who have entertained Northerners for more than 50 years. He is quick to give them credit.

"Those who were before me, like Jonas Kakfwi, Albert Lafferty, Theodore Tobac and Charlie Edji, in those days they started playing early and they finished at five or six in the morning," he said.

Manuel added that in "those days," musicians didn't get paid for playing at the dances. They did it for the love of the music.

When he and Jonas Kakfwi were young boys, they would hang around the Hudson's Bay store until Albert Lafferty got off work. The three would then go to Lafferty's house and help him get his fire going. After the house was warmed up, Lafferty would take out his fiddle and show the boys how to play.

"That's what we wanted. We wanted to learn how people play and we tried so hard to get going," said Manuel.He said life in those days was often hard with all the chores, but they still found time for music.

He said the youth today have it much easier with running water and oil furnaces. He would like to see more of them use their free time to learn music.

"Today when I talk to the young people, I tell them it's a good time for them to get into instruments. I tell them 'you've got to put your mind into it,'" he said.

Manuel said he may be well known for his music, but he wouldn't be able to make good music without his band members: John Kotchile, Edward Kakfwi, George Grandjambe, Arthur Tobac, Henrey Tobac, Kenny Shae and Manuel's son Thomas "Bigman" Manuel on the drums.

Thomas's late son Cal Manuel also used to play the spoons in the band.

"He was in a wheelchair but he would be up there on the stage playing it because he was happy to play for his people," said Manuel

Manuel said he sometimes wonders why people are so unhappy these days. He said they have so much to be positive about, and he tries to focus on the positive.

"I thank all my band members and family and people in the Sahtu and the Delta for keeping me going this long," he said.