Northern Cree

Northern Cree
OriginMaskwacis
Genrespowwow
Years active1980/82–present

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.

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]

Members

References

  1. ^ a b c d 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.
  2. ^ a b c d 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.
  3. ^ "Beyoncé, Drake, Adele and Justin Bieber to vie for Grammy Awards". Cbc.ca. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  4. ^ "Biography", NorthernCree.com. Accessed: August 23, 2017.
  5. ^ Leggett, Steve. Northern Cree Singers at AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  6. ^ Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at Fort Duchesne at AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  7. ^ Still Rezin' at AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  8. ^ Huey, Steve. Showtime at AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  9. ^ "Northern Cree - Ewipihcihk (CR-6508)", CanyonRecords.com. Accessed: August 23, 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Gord Downie wins three Junos at music awards gala dinner Saturday night". London Free Press, Lynn Saxberg and Peter Hum. April 1, 2017
  11. ^ La Rose, Lauren (2017). "Grammy award nominees Northern Cree will kick off ceremony in L.A.", CBC.CA. Accessed: August 23, 2017.
  12. ^ "In Our Drum We Trust (CR-6291)", CanyonRecords.com. Accessed: August 23, 2017.
  13. ^ "43rd Grammy Awards". CNN. February 21, 2001. Archived from the original on November 6, 2008. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  14. ^ "Shawn Mendes, Grimes And A Tribe Called Red Lead The 2017 iHeartRadio MMVA Nominations!". MMVAs. Much. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  15. ^ "Complete List Of Grammy Nominees". CBS News. January 4, 2002. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  16. ^ "Grammy Award Winners". The New York Times. December 8, 2003. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ "Nominees: 2007". JunoAwards.ca. Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ "53rd Annual Grammy Awards nominees list". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  22. ^ "59th Annual GRAMMY Awards Winners & Nominees". GRAMMY.com. February 12, 2017. Archived from the original on February 13, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  23. ^ "60th Annual GRAMMY Award Winners & Nominees". GRAMMY.com. January 28, 2022. Archived from the original on February 14, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  24. ^ "Printer-Friendly Nominees & Winners". The JUNO Awards. Archived from the original on 2019-04-23. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
  25. ^ "62nd Annual GRAMMY Award Winners & Nominees". GRAMMY.com. January 26, 2020. Archived from the original on January 29, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  26. ^ "Northern Cree Singers". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 March 2019.