Second trip to Grammys for drum group

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Although they did not bring home the prize from the 46th annual Grammy Awards in California on Feb. 8, founder and group leader of the Northern Cree drum group said he was excited that out of 82 groups nominated overall, they were one of five who got to go to the event.

Northern Crees CD Still Rezin' was nominated in the Best Native American Music category. Steve Wood said that sitting with the pop group Evanescence and sitting in close proximity to entertainer Madonna and actress Carmen Electra was a blast for all the members in the group, and he said it was the best rock concert that he's been to in his life.

Nominated in 2001 for their CD Rockin the Rez it was the second trip to the Grammy's for the group that began 20 years ago. Wood said the group was formed when he and his two brothers needed something to keep them out of trouble in Saddle Lake.

He said that his late dad, Alex, and his Uncle Norman Wood, were well known singers on the powwow circuit and following tradition he and his brothers started singing at powwows in the early 1980s.

"When we first started, other people joined up from our reserve, as well as others from other First Nations communities such as Onion Lake, Sask., Louis Bull or Poundmaker First Nation in Saskatchewan," he said.

Still Rezin' is a collection of 10 singles and is a spin off of Rockin the Rez because as the name implies both albums were recorded at the same location in Saddle Lake.

While in California the group attended the nominee gala, a big Hollywood-style party at the California Sciences Centre, where they rubbed shoulders with some of the finest musicians in North America.

"When I look at it, we were not only representing the community of Saddle Lake, but we were also representing the entire Cree Nation and First Nations in general. Hopefully, young people will see what we are, where we are and how we got here by keeping our traditional music alive. We hope that it allows them to see that they too can aspire to reach their goals," he said.

Wood, who is a teacher at the Nipsihkopahk Secondary School in Hobbema, said that he has a motto that he uses in his classroom.

"If you believe in who you are, where you came from, in your identity, in your culture and in your language, then it will take you places where you never dreamed of. I can say this because I never dreamed of ever being there rubbing shoulders with people in Hollywood. I hope that this experience inspires other First Nation people to look at their traditional values and culture, because a lot of times what I'm seeing is that the young people are looking elsewhere for direction, as in other cultures for their music and dance. And sometimes what they need to do is look in front of them, because they need to look at their own identity and who they are as Aboriginal people," he said.

"I'm hoping that by our group getting to this level, the youth will see that maybe Aboriginal music can also get you to the Grammys."

Steve Wood said he is in awe of the opportunities he's had.

"When I think about that I go 'Wow.' This is really something, like it's history in the making ... even if we didn't win, we were very fortunate to go. That we've come this far, and especially twice. I mean once was unreal, but to do this again? It is really cool and there is always a next time, and we have our newest album, which will be released shortly, called Rezonate," he said.

Hilda Omeasoo Wood accompanied her husband Steve to California, as did their 15-year-old son Joel, who is part of Northern Cree.

"I'm proud of my husband, because he believes that if they could do this then anyone else could," Omeasoo Wood said.

"[People] just have to be proud of who they are. His teachings are very, very valuable, especially for the younger people. He is a good mentor for them. I'm happy for my son. He's done a lot of good positive things for his age, and I think he will go far with what he learns. Andor him to be as young as he is and to experience this-he was 13 years old when he first went-is just great. Not too many kids are fortunate enough to experience this event," she said.