Northern Cree
Northern Cree, also known as the Northern Cree Singers, is a powwow and Round Dance drum and singing group based in Maskwacis,[1][2] Alberta, Canada.[3] Formed in 1980 (or 1982[4]) by Randy Wood,[1][2] with brothers Charlie and Earl Wood of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation (Plains Indian music), members originate from the Treaty 6 area. These include Ferlin McGillvary, Steve Wood, Joel Wood,[5] and Conan Yellowbird.
Northern Cree | |
---|---|
Origin | Maskwacis |
Genres | powwow |
Years active | 1980/82–present |
Regarded as one of the best acts in modern Native American powwow music,[6] they have been named one of the most respected powwow groups in North America[1] and the world.[2] The group, or their music, has been described as remarkably unified and powerful,[7] attention-grabbing, and energetic.[8]
They have been nominated for six Grammy Awards[9] and two Juno Awards. In 2017, the Singers, along with founder Randy Wood and Tanya Tagaq, won a Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year – Large Ensemble for the album Going Home Star.[10]
Discography
According to Allmusic they have over twenty albums out; according to their website, they have released 37, mostly live recordings, on Canyon Records. Albums include:
- Rockin' the Rez (2001)
- Still Rezin' (2003)
- Northern Cree & Friends, Vol. 5: Long Winter Nights (2006)
- Stay Red (2006)
- Red Rock: Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at Muckleshoot (2008)
- True Blue (2009)
- Temptations: Cree Round Dance Songs (2010) It's a Cree Thing (2016)
- Ewipihcihk: ᐁᐏᐱᐦᒋᐦᐠ ["to go Round Dancing (with)," or, "he/she goes Round Dancing (with)"] (2016)
- Nitisanak - Brothers and Sister (2018)
They were featured in the film Grey Owl (1999).[11][12] They are featured on the album Gathering of Nations Pow Wow 1999 (2000, Soar Records), which won a Grammy in 2001.[13] The group is featured in the song and music video "Indomitable" by DJ Shub, which was nominated for Best EDM/Dance Video in the 2017 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards and won Best Music Video in the Native American Music Awards.[14] They are featured on the CDs which accompany David Bouchard's children's books in Cree and English: Nokum Is My Teacher (2006) and The Drum Calls Softly (2008), both on Red Deer Press.[1][2]
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Nominee/Work | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | Grammy | Best Native American Music Album | Rockin' the Rez | Nominated | [15] |
2004 | Grammy | Best Native American Music Album | Still Rezin' | Nominated | [16] |
2007 | Grammy | Best Native American Music Album | Northern Cree & Friends, Vol. 5: Long Winter Nights | Nominated | [17] |
2007 | Juno Award | Aboriginal Recording of the Year | Stay Red | Nominated | [18] |
2009 | Grammy | Best Native American Music Album | Red Rock: Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at Muckleshoot | Nominated | [19] |
2010 | Grammy | Best Native American Music Album | True Blue | Nominated | [20] |
2011 | Grammy | Best Native American Music Album | Temptations: Cree Round Dance Songs | Nominated | [21] |
2017 | Grammy | Best Regional Roots Music Album | It's a Cree Thing | Nominated | [22] |
2017 | Juno Award | Classical Album of the Year – Large Ensemble | Going Home Star | Won | [10] |
2018 | Grammy | Best Regional Roots Music Album | Miyo Kekisepa, Make a Stand [Live] | Nominated | [23] |
2019 | Juno Award | Indigenous Music Album of the Year | Nitisanak - Brothers and Sister | Nominated | [24] |
2020 | Grammy | Best Regional Roots Music Album | When It's Cold - Cree Round Dance Songs | Nominated | [25] |
References
- Bouchard, David (2006). Nokum Is My Teacher, Postface. Illustrated by Allen Sapp. Music by Northern Cree. Red Deer Press. ISBN 978-0-88995-367-3.
- Bouchard, David and Willier, Shelley (2008). The Drum Calls Softly, Postface. Illustrated by Jim Poitras. Music by Northern Cree. Red Deer Press. ISBN 978-0-88995-421-2.
- "Beyoncé, Drake, Adele and Justin Bieber to vie for Grammy Awards". Cbc.ca. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
- "Biography", NorthernCree.com. Accessed: August 23, 2017.
- Leggett, Steve. Northern Cree Singers at AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
- Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at Fort Duchesne at AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
- Still Rezin' at AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
- Huey, Steve. Showtime at AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
- "Northern Cree - Ewipihcihk (CR-6508)", CanyonRecords.com. Accessed: August 23, 2017.
- "Gord Downie wins three Junos at music awards gala dinner Saturday night". London Free Press, Lynn Saxberg and Peter Hum. April 1, 2017
- La Rose, Lauren (2017). "Grammy award nominees Northern Cree will kick off ceremony in L.A.", CBC.CA. Accessed: August 23, 2017.
- "In Our Drum We Trust (CR-6291)", CanyonRecords.com. Accessed: August 23, 2017.
- "43rd Grammy Awards". CNN. February 21, 2001. Archived from the original on November 6, 2008. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
- "Shawn Mendes, Grimes And A Tribe Called Red Lead The 2017 iHeartRadio MMVA Nominations!". MMVAs. Much. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
- "Complete List Of Grammy Nominees". CBS News. January 4, 2002. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
- "Grammy Award Winners". The New York Times. December 8, 2003. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
- "49th Annual Grammy Awards Winners List". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on December 20, 2006. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- "Nominees: 2007". JunoAwards.ca. Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
- Conner, Thomas (December 3, 2008). "Complete list of Grammy nominees". Chicago Sun-Times. Sun-Times Media Group. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
- "The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards Nominees List". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on June 18, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
- "53rd Annual Grammy Awards nominees list". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
- "59th Annual GRAMMY Awards Winners & Nominees". GRAMMY.com. February 12, 2017. Archived from the original on February 13, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
- "60th Annual GRAMMY Award Winners & Nominees". GRAMMY.com. January 28, 2022. Archived from the original on February 14, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
- "Printer-Friendly Nominees & Winners". The JUNO Awards. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
- "62nd Annual GRAMMY Award Winners & Nominees". GRAMMY.com. January 26, 2020. Archived from the original on January 29, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
- "Northern Cree Singers". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 March 2019.