Emotional tribute part of Voices of the North

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This year's production of Voices of the North took place in Prince Albert Feb. 12 to 14, drawing about 2,000 music fans to the annual showcase of Aboriginal talent.

Among the performers who took to the stage for this year's showcase were Curtis Ledoux, Tammy Cashene, Donna Bill, Terri-Anne Strongarm, Teagan Littlechief and Sandy Bird. Mo Tourand, Darren Gardiner, Donnie Desjarlais, Duncan Gardiner, Chris Villebrun-Tootoosis and the band No Kurfew also performed.

This year's show band included Fred Morin, Grant Kimbley, Marc Arnould, Don Ranville, Tom Dutiame and Jay Ross, while Sheryl Kimbley, Connie Mike and Ronnie Bradfield provided backup vocals. The master of ceremonies duties were shared by Jacob Felix and Phyllis Merasty.

The most touching moment of the event came during the evening show on Feb. 14 when a tribute to Bernice Sayese was held. Sayese was one of the founders of Voices of the North and had been involved in producing the showcase since its beginning 12 years ago. Sayese was diagnosed with cancer last January and was unable to produce this year's show, but attended the final performance. She lost her battle with cancer on March 4.

"It was kind of an emotional, touching show, and a lot of people came out. Past performers came just to come and support her and see her," said Sheryl Kimbley, who has also been involved in Voices of the North since day one and who produced this year's show.

"It was very emotional, but she seemed to handle all the emotion that we put forth to her very well. She came on the stage for the finale and Connie Mike sang the final song to her. Connie is a dear friend of hers. And the cast joined us to sing with her, and we handed out copies of the song so the audience could join along also. It was really, really touching."

While a number of people have been involved in Voices of the North since its inception, Kimbley said, it was Sayese who always took the lead role.

"Bernice is who we looked to. She is really our founder, the person who originated all the ideas and came up with the show and continued the work to get it where it is today."

As part of the tribute, a teddy bear draped in a Metis sash was placed on the stage to represent Sayese, who was affectionately known as Mama Bear by the youth of Prince Albert. Alongside the bear, organizers placed a guitar that had been given to Sayese by Churchill River M.P. Rick Laliberte to mark the tenth anniversary of Voices of the North. Laliberte, who first met Sayese many years ago when he was part of the band D.C. and the Country Boys, often took part in Voices of the North after his jump from music to politics, acting as master of ceremonies for the showcase.

"He said it's to symbolize all that she has done for Aboriginal music. And we're going to continue to keep that tradition alive by having that guitar on our stage for years to come now," Kimbley said.

Not only is the Voices of the North showcase a successful event, but it has also helped launch the careers of a number of Aboriginal performers.

"It's happening quite a bit, and it's still continuing to happen," Kimbley said. "And one of the happier things that happens is for me, its not always about them going on to be recording artists, but that they go on and have happy memories of the show. Wherever the road takes them, as long as they look back at Voices as being a positive experience.

Among the performers who have appeared on the Voices of the North stage over the years have been Chester Knight, Ray Villebrun, Vern Cheechoo and Krystle Pederson. Even this year's line up featured some celebrity-Teagan Littlechief is currently gaining attention, and airplay, for her single Vulnerable, and long time show band member Jay Ross was named best male artist at the 2003 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards (CAMA).

Ross gives Voices of the North credit for helping boost his career. Organizers recognized his CAMA win with a special presentation durig this year's showcase.