Canadian Indigenous Music Showcase

Canadian

indigenous

Music Showcase

Ahneen, Biindigen! Hello, Welcome!

By: Hilarie McIntyre, Patricia Mckinney and Nicholas Timms

learn more

Hilarie and Patricia both live on the traditional land of the Anishnaabeg people. The Anishnaabeg include the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Pottawatomi nations, collectively known as the Three Fires Confederacy.

Hilarie McIntyre

meet the team

Patricia McKinney

Nick lives on the traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississauga's - land that is covered by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant.

Nicholas Timms

introduction to the project

Hilarie lives in Sutton, Ontario, close to the Chippewas Georgina Island Ferry on Lake Simcoe. On her recent visit, she interviewed Morgan Priester, the morning host for Nish Radio, located above the community centre on the island. Morgan gave a tour of the island, sharing stories about the buildings, people, and traditions of the Anishinaabe people. He also shared his love of Indigenous music and his experience in radio with Indigenous artists.

The connection between the Seven Fires Prophecy and Canadian Indigenous music was our inspiration for this project. The Anishinaabe Seven Fires Prophecy is a traditional prophecy among the Anishinaabe people, which includes several Indigenous nations in North America, particularly in the Great Lakes region.

The prophecy foretells the historical and spiritual journey of the Anishinaabe people, describing seven different phases or "fires" that represent different periods and events. While interpretations may vary among different communities, the general themes often include predictions about the arrival of Europeans, the impact of colonization, and the potential for a reawakening and renewal of Indigenous identity and spirituality.

The Seven Fires Prophecy is an oral tradition, and interpretations may vary among Anishinaabe communities. The prophecy is seen by many as a guide for understanding the historical and spiritual challenges faced by the Anishinaabe people and, by extension, other Indigenous nations. Kruse et al. (2019).

The connection between the Seven Fires Prophecy and Canadian Indigenous music is essential because Indigenous music varies among nations and communities. In the context of the Seven Fires Prophecy, these musicians use their work to explore themes related to the prophecy, such as resilience, cultural revitalization, and the ongoing journey of Indigenous peoples. Based on the prophecy's teachings, the lyrics touch upon historical events, cultural preservation, and the hope for a positive future.

introduction to the project

meet morgan

Morgan Priester grew up in the Chippewas of Georgina Island, an Anishinaabe Nation located on the southern shores of Lake Simcoe. He hosts the CFGI 92.3FM Nish Radio morning show on Georgina Island. Morgan was nominated for Best Aboriginal Music Program in 2008 at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards. We candidly chatted about Indigenous musicians and their narrative storytelling through music.

History of language

(Anishinaabemowin) Ojibwe

Nēhiyawēwin ( Cree )

Kanien'kéha (Mohawk)

Bodéwadmimwen (Potawatomi)

Siouan

(Dakota-Lakota-Nakota)

Siouan

(Dakota-Lakota-Nakota)

Indigenous languages, like many languages around the world, are falling victim to ‘digital minoritisation’, as their everyday use is slowly replaced by English, or other ‘majority’ languages (Henley, 2018). These links offer you a glimpse into Indigenous language and their importance to cultural identity.

It is essential to know the history of the land that we live on. Native Land Digital was developed to welcome non-Indigenous people and encourage them to learn more about the land that they inhabit. A focus of this resource is to build relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and to teach about colonialism while bringing forward Indigenous narratives. (Our Home on Native Land, n.d.)

Click through this amazing resource to learn about the land you live on, the languages spoken on the land, and the treaties that affected the land.

native land digital

Classroom ActivitIES

“Jeremy Dutcher is an operatic tenor and composer of Indigenous Wolostoq heritage. His debut album, Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa, is a reimagining of wax cylinder recordings performed by members of the Wolostoq community in the early 1900s — a time when the Canadian government had essentially banned Indigenous people from passing on their traditions.”

Classroom Activity #1

Listen to Jeremy Dutcher being interviewed by Tom Power on CBC Radio. In this interview, Jeremy talks about his language, his decision to record some songs in English, and the intersection or his own identity.

Form students into small groups of 3-5

Within each group, have students assign the following roles:

Note taker
Critical thinker
Cultural connector

After listening to the interview, assign the following prompts as a conversation starter:

Why do you think Jeremy Dutcher recorded part of this album in English?
Why do you think Jeremy Dutcher appeals to Indigenous and non-Indigenous listeners?
How is Jeremy Dutcher’s identity relevant to the music he creates? What has he learned about himself?

Classroom ActivitIES

Classroom Activity #2

Watch this video and within small groups or as a class, discuss who they are following on social media and why. Do they feel influenced by who they follow?

Conversation prompts:

What social media platforms do you use?

Who do you follow, and why?

Have you considered following people to learn specifically about their culture?

How can you grow as an ally through social media?

“Our voices are powerful, grounded in our bloodlines and culture. We are in a time where our songs are needed. We all have a role to play in amplifying and creating space, hoping that someday we will light that Eighth Fire.”

-ShoShona Kish

the Seven Fires prophecy

Click on each of the fires to learn more.

Artists

Digging Roots

Logan Staats

William Prince

Shawnee Kish

Aysanabee

Digging roots

Digging Roots is a musical group led by ShoShona Kish and her husband, Raven Kanatakta. They create a fusion of roots, rock, and blues with Anishinaabe's and Onkwehonwe's (Indigenous) worldviews.

Logan Staats

Logan Staats is a Canadian musician and singer-songwriter of Mohawk descent, specifically from Ontario's Six Nations of the Grand River reserve. He gained widespread recognition and popularity after winning the first season of "The Launch," a Canadian reality TV music competition.

william prince

William Prince is a Canadian singer-songwriter known for his soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics. He is of Cree and Dakota descent, hailing from Peguis First Nation in Manitoba, Canada. Prince has received acclaim for his work in the folk and Americana music genres.

shawnee kish

Shawnee Kish is a Canadian singer-songwriter, artist, and activist. Shawnee, who is Ojibwe and Potawatomi, uses her music as a platform to address social issues, promote inclusivity, and advocate for positive change. She is known for her powerful vocals and genre-blending sound that incorporates elements of pop, rock, and folk.

Aysanabee

Aysanabee, a Juno-nominated artist from Toronto, is a multi-talented musician known for his skills in playing various instruments, producing music, and songwriting. He belongs to the Oji-Cree, Sucker Clan, originating from the Sandy Lake First Nation in Northwestern Ontario—a distant fly-in community. His music, a mix of indie, soul, and electronic elements, features poignant saxophone melodies and heart-pounding finger-picking, creating a solemn and expansive sound.

references

Aysanabee. AYSANABEE. (2022). https://www.aysanabee.com/

Digging roots. DIGGING ROOTS. (2023). https://www.diggingrootsmusic.com/

Georgina Island. Georgina Island | Chippewas of Georgina Island. (2023). https://georginaisland.com/

Henley, J. (2018, February 26). Icelandic language battles threat of 'digital extinction' | Iceland. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/26/icelandic-language-battles-threat-of-digital-extinction

Kruse, M., Tanchuk, N., & Hamilton, R. (2019). Educating in the seventh fire: debwewin, mino‐bimaadiziwin, and ecological justice. Educational Theory, 69(5), 587–601. https://doi.org/10.1111/edth.12388

Logan Staats. LOGAN STAATS. (2023). https://www.loganstaats.ca/

Our home on native land. (n.d.). Native-Land.ca | Our home on native land. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://native-land.ca/about/why-it-matters/

Shawnee Kish. SHAWNEE KISH. (2023). https://www.shawneekish.com/

Six Shooter Inc. (2023). William Prince. https://www.williamprincemusic.com/

Wilson, R. (2009). The teachings of the seven Fires prophecy. Ya-Native. https://www.ya-native.com/nativeamerica/theteachingsofthesevenfiresprophecy.html

YouTube. (2018). Breathless. YouTube. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPGvW8XTzps.

YouTube. (2023a). Folk Song. YouTube. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrZBRXBXtRA.

YouTube. (2016). History of the Cree Language. YouTube. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpvuED_hJTM.ouTube. (2023a). Folk Song.

YouTube. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrZBRXBXtRA.

YouTube. (2016). History of the Cree Language. YouTube. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpvuED_hJTM.

YouTube. (2021). Love It or Lose It. YouTube. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teNAbAgRO34.

YouTube. (2017). New prof at U of T teaches Mohawk language in hopes of saving his ancestral language. YouTube. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqdnVXybiWk.

YouTube. (2015). Prairie Band Potawatomi: Preserving Language & Culture. YouTube. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZYHVeKIVtE.

YouTube. (2020). Preserving and Restoring the Ojibwe Language: First Speakers. YouTube. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RooWZc4lLok.

YouTube. (2023b). Preserving the Sioux Language | Dakota Life. YouTube. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgqV-ZwapvU

YouTube. (2023). Skoden. YouTube. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nk13oKaLJv0.

references

YouTube. (2021c). The Seven Fires Prophecy( The Fifth Fire). YouTube. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76hynlrjk0I.

YouTube. (2021b). The Seven Fires Prophecy( The First Fire). YouTube. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPL8_8XhYGY.

YouTube. (2021d). The Seven Fires prophecy( The Fourth Fire part 2). YouTube. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-78wmwNhLlU.

YouTube. (2021c). The Seven Fires prophecy( The Second Fire). YouTube. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CXkySoYEPI.

YouTube. (2021b). The Seven Fire Prophecy ( The Third Fire). YouTube. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9SAExdI_R4.

YouTube. (2021g). The Seven Fires Prophecy( The seventh fire). YouTube. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jx0mV45g3Q.

YouTube. (2021g). The Seven Fires Prophecy( The sixth fire). YouTube. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWVZWO_4XIg.

YouTube. (2022). We Were Here. YouTube. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf12NEW8wPk.