Music makes the world go round
Canada is well known on the international level for producing great artists in writing, music, painting and dance. In a unique way, First Nations artists have played a very important role on the international stage. We have so much to be proud of.
Recently my friend Paul Toutant referred me to the latest recording by Florent Vollant, of Kashtin fame. From my first listen to this album I fell in love with the songs. Puamuna, which means dream in the Innu language, is his fourth solo album. It was recorded at his Studio Makusham in Maliotenam First Nation, east of Sept-Îles, Quebec.
Everyone along the James Bay coast enjoyed the music produced by Kashtin during the early 1990s due to the fact that the Innu language has many similarities with Cree and Ojibway. Puamuna is almost the same as the Cree word for dreams. I believe the title is meaningful in that so many of the tunes are dream-like and soothing.
My favourite tunes on this album are Tshekuannu and Apu Peikussian. The songs are a labour of love and feature many minds and hearts from a collaboration with Pascale Picard and other well-known Quebec musicians. Many First Nations people remember Kashtin, which toured as a duo with Claude McKenzie across the globe from 1989 to 1995.
Florent is one of those generous artists who give back to his community. In the 1980s, he helped to create the festival Innu Nikamu that brought together a lot of Native musicians. His Studio Makusham is both a professional recording studio and a training centre for young Native musicians. He has hosted a television show, appeared on many major television events and has played and collaborated with famous musicians like Richard Séguin, Robbie Robertson, Marc Déry and Zachary Richard.
Another great group that features a Mohawk friend of mine from Six Nations is OL ‘CD. Wesley Martin and his bandmates can be found on Facebook or check out their website at olcdmusic.com
OL ‘CD is full of fun and they are planning to bring a party to you this summer at shows in Ontario and Quebec. Check out their website for dates and places. This band is my pick for making it big so see them while you can at a bargain price.
Adrian Sutherland and his band Midnight Shine have produced some great Native-rooted music and they have been touring extensively. Adrian is from Attawapiskat and has been writing his own songs and playing them for years. Check out their website at midnightshineonline.com or find them on Facebook for all the latest information on the group as well as upcoming events.
Summer is not complete without attending at least one or two live music events. I remember watching the Nakogee Band so long ago in Attawapiskat. They provided our little community with live music and they played all the big hits that Native people really love. I am talking about songs by Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Rolling Stones, Peter Wolf, Bob Dylan and many others. People loved to dance to their music and they put on a high-energy show. Young and old would show up to dance the night away and some of the Elders even found a way to step dance here and there.
There is no doubt in my mind that the Nakogee Band inspired a lot of budding musicians. Meegwetch to them for giving us the gift of music when we really needed it. Sometimes life is very hard in remote First Nations and I know that many young people picked up a guitar and learned to strum a tune because they had a real live band to look up to. Music helped us all get through some hard times and it continues to do so. I am sure that musicians like Adrian Sutherland was there back then watching the Nakogee Brothers belt out a night of rock-and-roll songs. That more than likely gave his spirit a push in the right direction.