FNMI MusicCompiled by Sharon Meyer

NESD FNMIOctober, 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

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

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 made from two materials:1- the wood frame from the plant world2 – the hide from the animal worldNo metal is used to hold the drum together.The drum reminds of our place on Mother Earththe plants and animals were here first and the drum reminds us to honor that order of creation.

The hand drum is held together with sinew

The back of the hand drumusually has the four quadrants of the medicine wheel

The hand drum is smudged to cleanse it before drumming

The hand drum is used by a one person

This is a video of women helping to sing with the hand drummerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4kNNY1nlas 3:05Red Bull – Back Up Singing Contest @ Manito Ahbee - 2009

Round Dance or Friendship DanceA 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 drumthat is used at a round dance.

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

Anyone and any age can join in the round dance at any time.The round dance follows the direction of the Sacred circle.

An Idle No More Round Dance

An Allan Sap painting about the Round Dance

HAND DRUM

The contemporary hand drumis decorated with art.

Students at Porcupine Plain havecreated their own drum stories

Big Drum or Powwow Drum

The big drum or powwow drum is used for ceremoniesand celebrations.The drum sits off the ground.It is cleansed by a smudge or offering of tobaccobefore being drummed on.There is to be no less than 4 people at the drum torepresent the four quadrants of the medicine wheelbut 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 butthe powwow drum has hide on both sides.

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

THE DRUM GATHERS PEOPLE TO CELEBRATE

The FNMI Drum bundle is available for NESD class use – book now!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsgSw9lhv-UAt most powwows the women do not drum but are invited to sing Women’s backup singing contest (Rosebud Casino powwow 2006) 1:54The FNMI Powwow bundle is available and offers many videos and CD’s regarding drum

songs. ALSO

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=BAhQuXCrCcQ3 Year Old Inuit Drum Dancer – Nunavut Drum Dance Festival 3:38

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnPh3GGykaITumivut – Inuit Throat Singing – The Competition Song 1:24

The Inuit have throat singers as part of song

A soapstone carving ofthroat singers

Haida Drumming

The Haida people use the drum to dance stories.They tend to use lots of masks as part of theirdance.They wear button blankets that represents the family clan they belong to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B18FMmhbDac&noredirect=1Haida Dancers 0:31

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNXlC7L9V2wRaven Dance 3:18Dance using masks

RattlesRattles were made from various materials and used in various ceremonies. The rattleis usually not used as an entertainment instrument.

Made from animalhorn and wood

Made from driedanimal hooves

Made from driedshells of a nut

Made from dried hideand sewn together withsinew

These two are made from gourds and then carved or painted Made from a shell

of a turtle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJzh_WDJs74&noredirect=1Johnny Gibot demonstrating his handcrafted Turtle Rattle 0:07

FluteThe 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=Dmargnob1sgFirst Nation Blessing 2:20https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQJTwNdwWwYChamakese & Gladue “Irresistable” 9:40Jason Chamakese is from the Cree Pelican Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan

Eagle WhistleUsed in ceremonies, special dances, and sacred musicMade from the bone of an eagle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmQqJIkmG3cMake a Bird Bone Whistle 2:39(Fast forward to 2:33 and listen to the sound from an eagle bone whistle)

METIS MUSIC

The Metis use the fiddle for much of their music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sB2iobPGnUJohn Arcand 1:13

The spoons are often used in Metis music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUXU-gs4OAcWooden Spoons and French Canada fiddle violin Tune by Fiddling Thomsons 2:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC_43UgBI2YBrave Step 3:21 A band named ‘A Tribe Called Red’ uses animation for the music video.

Contemporary FNMI MusicThere is a younger generation that are creating new music with traditional methods:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0jq7jIa34YStudio Enjoy: Supaman – ‘Prayer Loop Song’ 4:03A hip hop version of First Nation style music

http://www.aboriginalmusicweek.ca/artistsA 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 MeyerNESD FNMI – October 2014