Classic '70s Poster: Buffy Sainte-Marie Preaches Pride and Acceptance

Via indiancountrytodaymedianetwork

Singer and cultural icon Buffy Sainte-Marie drops wisdom in our second edition of classic posters from Akwesasne Notes, a hugely influential Mohawk newspaper that helped unite Natives all over Turtle Island in the late 60s and early '70s. This time around, the image is a photograph of a Native grandmother, accompanied by the quote from Sainte-Marie: "Why should an Indian woman have to bleach her hair to be accepted?" The text at the bottom of the poster reads, "Photograph courtesy of Alberta Provincial Archives. Our Grandmother shown here is Betty Hunter, of the Stoney Nation of Southern Alberta, taken about 1900."

The quote may have been taken from a profile of Sainte-Marie that ran in the St. Petersburg Times on Monday, October 19, 1970 -- and slightly altered. In the St. Petersburg Times article, Sainte-Marie asked, "Why shouldn't an Indian girl be a model or a designer or a painter?" She went on to say, "We're trying to open up the glamor jobs. ... Why should an Indian girl have to bleach her hair to be accepted?"

Sainte-Marie also commented on the harmful effects of the education system on Native youth. "What kid wants to be told in school that his grandfather was a savage?" she asked. "There's very little accuracy in the texts that are used about Indians, and about the way American settlers dealt with them." Her ultimate assessment of the state of Native people was that "Right now, Indians can't survive in America physically, mentally, emotionally, or artistcally."
Source

Canadian Museum for Human Rights announces opening ceremony lineup

Bruce Cockburn, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Ashley MacIsaac, A Tribe Called Red among performing acts

On top of announcing a partnership with Rogers to broadcast the proceedings in their entirety live and online, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) released its list of performers for the opening weekend ceremonies Sept. 19 and 20.

"The opening of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is truly a national event," said CMHR President and CEO Stuart Murray in a press release. "We welcome the opportunity to work with Rogers in bringing our opening weekend celebrations to all Canadians, no matter where they are."

The opening weekend “Rights Fest” activities will include the free outdoor Canadian Concert for Human Rights, with performances from well-known Canadian musical acts like Bruce Cockburn, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Ashley MacIsaac, Marie-Pierre Arthur and A Tribe Called Red.

The Sept. 19 opening ceremonies will last 90-minutes and start at 10:30 a.m., concluding with the two-hour concert on Sept. 20, which starts at 7:00 p.m.

The ceremony will be broadcast live on APTN and Rogers' City and OMNI television networks.
Source CBC News

CBC Aboriginal’s top 10 road trip songs

Article By Kim Wheeler, CBC News

Summer is in full swing and as you head out for a road trip across the country, just down the highway to the lake or home to your community’s powwow, what will be playing on your car stereo?

Picking the perfect mix of music for the entire family can be tricky. Luckily, the indigenous music scene in Canada is an eclectic mix of musical genres, from hip-hop to country to blues to rock.

Just remember: if you don’t like one of the songs, chances are you’ll love the next one. So roll down the windows, turn up the volume and check out CBC Aboriginal’s top 10 road trip songs:

10. Spare Change — Plex: This works for both the kids and the parental units. Some rap with a sample of Chicago’s Saturday in the Park.

9. Stay — Digging Roots: Picture the setting sun, the kids are falling asleep in the back seat, and you are just sailing along that ribbon of asphalt without a care in the world.

8. Sisters — A Tribe Called Red featuring Northern Voice: Can’t make it to an ATCR show this summer? Bring their music with you, but be prepared to stop the car and dance at the side of the road.

 

7. Come and Get Your Love — Redbone: This song from the '70s stands up to the test of time. Turn this one up and watch passengers in other cars ask you which station you are listening to. True story.

6. Indian Cowboy in the Rodeo — Buffy Sainte-Marie: One does not simply have a music playlist without a Buffy song on it. This industry leader is celebrating 50 years in the business and is clearly the matriarch of indigenous music.​

 

5. Is Sorry Enough? — Murray Porter: This is one of those songs that comes with a message and can generate a conversation that will last for miles (or kilometres). Porter sings about the government's apology for residential schools.

4. All That I Know — Winnipeg’s Most: Even though the band has broken up and reincarnated itself as Winnipeg Boyz, it has yet to make a song as catchy as this one.

3. Sundancer — Eagle and Hawk: There a few incarnations of this song, but the one with lead vocals by the band’s bassist, Spatch, is the best version. It's also rumoured to be the No. 1 most requested song on Manitoba's NCI-FM (Native Communications Inc.)

 

2. Damned If You Do — Derek Miller with Willie Nelson: Need something more than one of our community’s best musicians singing with a country music legend?

1. NDN Kar — Various artists. Keith Secola wrote this iconic tune that has been covered by several artists, but it was really Shawn Bernard who breathed new life into this classic. Whichever version you play, you’ll probably play it at least twice before switching to a new tune.
SOURCE CBC