Dance Of The Hummingbird

The name Sa-Cinn means "hummingbird" in the West Coast Native language. The history of Sa-Cinn is based on a song which originally belonged to Dr. George Clutesi's mother. Winona's mother, Pearl Brown, the Doctor's niece, put the song to a dance and performed the "Hummingbird Dance" to honor her Uncle in 1952. The present Queen of England and Prince Phillip witnessed the dance at Thunderbird Park, adjacent to the Royal British Columbia Museum, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Pearl's Uncle instructed her on how to move by encouraging her to watch the hummingbird's movements. The dance consists of darting about and hovering in one spot for short moments only. The dance is very difficult to do and only a few have mastered it today. Pearl Brown's performances were limited, as she died a few years later in 1955. Her performances are still talked about and remembered with great pride by the West Coast people. Sa-Cinn while sung is calling the hummingbird - if they come it is a good omen.