FNMI Music

Compiled by Sharon Meyer NESD FNMI October, 2014

First Nation Music

- Drum (Hand drum & Big Drum or Powwow drum) Inuit drum, Haida drum - Flute - Rattle - Eagle Whistle Some items are used only in traditional ceremonies and other items are used for entertainment.

Hand Drum

The hand drum is made from two materials: 1- the wood frame from the plant world 2 – the hide from the animal world No metal is used to hold the drum together.

The drum reminds of our place on Mother Earth the plants and animals were here first and the drum reminds us to honor that order of creation.

The hand drum is smudged to cleanse it before drumming The back of the hand drum usually has the four quadrants of the medicine wheel The hand drum is held together with sinew A drum is considered female and is treated with respect.

The beat of the drum symbolizes the heartbeat of Mother Earth. The hand drum is used by a one person http://innovative-learning.publicethnography.net/projects/gna-giidadowin-exploring-our-way-life-through-anashinabe-song-and drum-celeste-pedri 25:24 A video that explains much about the hand drum This is a video of women helping to sing with the hand drummer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4kNNY1nlas 3:05 Red Bull – Back Up Singing Contest @ Manito Ahbee - 2009

Round Dance or Friendship Dance A hand drum is often used at a round dance. A social dance that often takes place in the winter season when the powwow trail ends. There are always more than one hand drum that is used at a round dance.

An Idle No More Round Dance An Allan Sap painting about the Round Dance Anyone and any age can join in the round dance at any time.

The round dance follows the direction of the Sacred circle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxKJtTBamzI Manitopyes Memorial Round Dance – Opening Song 1:52

HAND DRUM

The contemporary hand drum is decorated with art.

Students at Porcupine Plain have created their own drum stories

Big Drum or Powwow Drum

The big drum or powwow drum is used for ceremonies and celebrations.

The drum sits off the ground.

It is cleansed by a smudge or offering of tobacco before being drummed on.

There is to be no less than 4 people at the drum to represent the four quadrants of the medicine wheel but can have many to sit around the drum sometimes up to 12 people.

There are different beats to represent the different dances.

The hand drum has hide on one side of the drum but the powwow drum has hide on both sides.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq3gx7dNeso Porcupine Singers 2 Sioux Nation Pow wow 2010 2:17

THE DRUM GATHERS PEOPLE TO CELEBRATE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsgSw9lhv-U At most powwows the women do not drum but are invited to sing Women’s backup singing contest (Rosebud Casino powwow 2006) 1:54 The FNMI Powwow bundle is available and offers many videos and CD’s regarding drum songs. ALSO The FNMI Drum bundle is available for NESD class use – book now!

Inuit Drum The drum is used by one person.

The covering is made of seal skin or caribou hide.

The drum is used in storytelling dancing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAhQuXCrCcQ 3 Year Old Inuit Drum Dancer – Nunavut Drum Dance Festival 3:38 A soapstone carving of throat singers The Inuit have throat singers as part of song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnPh3GGykaI Tumivut – Inuit Throat Singing – The Competition Song 1:24

Haida Drumming The Haida people use the drum to dance stories.

They tend to use lots of masks as part of their dance.

They wear button blankets that represents the family clan they belong to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B18FMmhbDac&noredirect=1 Haida Dancers 0:31 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNXlC7L9V2w Raven Dance 3:18 Dance using masks

Rattles Rattles were made from various materials and used in various ceremonies. The rattle is usually not used as an entertainment instrument.

Made from animal horn and wood Made from dried animal hooves Made from dried shells of a nut These two are made from gourds and then carved or painted Made from a shell of a turtle Made from dried hide and sewn together with sinew https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJzh_WDJs74&noredirect=1 Johnny Gibot demonstrating his handcrafted Turtle Rattle 0:07

Flute The flute was used as entertainment and often made from wood.

The flute has a soft sound that is soothing to many people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dmargnob1sg First Nation Blessing 2:20 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQJTwNdwWwY Chamakese & Gladue “Irresistable” 9:40 Jason Chamakese is from the Cree Pelican Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan

Eagle Whistle Used in ceremonies, special dances, and sacred music Made from the bone of an eagle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmQqJIkmG3c Make a Bird Bone Whistle 2:39 (Fast forward to 2:33 and listen to the sound from an eagle bone whistle)

METIS MUSIC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sB2iobPGnU John Arcand 1:13 The spoons are often used in Metis music The Metis use the fiddle for much of their music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUXU-gs4OAc Wooden Spoons and French Canada fiddle violin Tune by Fiddling Thomsons 2:00

Contemporary FNMI Music There is a younger generation that are creating new music with traditional methods: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC_43UgBI2Y Brave Step 3:21 A band named ‘A Tribe Called Red’ uses animation for the music video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0jq7jIa34Y Studio Enjoy: Supaman – ‘Prayer Loop Song’ 4:03 A hip hop version of First Nation style music http://www.aboriginalmusicweek.ca/artists A site that highlights a list of FNMI Music artists in Canada

http://regina2014naig.com/cultural-program/cultural-village-artists/ More FNMI music artist names Remember - the rhythm of the beat is always Inside you!

Thank you for opening your eyes for seeing.

your ears for listening, and your mind for learning!

Complied by Sharon Meyer NESD FNMI – October 2014