Okanee follows spirit of the drum

Page 9

Gerald Okanee is a young man with a powerful voice. He has been a guest singer with renowned drum groups Noon Express, Mandaree, High Noon and Red Bull. He is currently lead singer of Saskatchewan's Big Bear Singers.

In contrast to his big voice at the drum, Okanee is soft-spoken and unassuming in everyday life and is known on his home reserve of Thunderchild First Nation as Oskapiw, the Plains Cree word that means worthy young man.

Oskapiw is a server for the pipeman and sees to the comfort of Elders, families and visitors attending sacred ceremonies and feasts. Oskapiw burns the sweetgrass, tends the smudge and keeps the fires going.

"So much First Nation culture has been eroded because we cannot practice many of the old tribal ways," said Okanee. "Our younger generation is losing our Cree language. The drum is one tradition that can be maintained. Young men learn that you represent yourself, the drum and your tribe. It helps them away from drugs and alcohol. In singing and the Native way of life, there is no room for drugs or alcohol."

Camaraderie and competition have always gone hand-in-hand on the powwow trail.

"We see the same people in Saskatchewan or Arizona. We believe that if you have a drum and a good heart, that the drum will take care of you no matter what. If you go to a powwow just to compete and make money, you are not going to make it. When we travel, we have faith in the spirit of the drum that a good time will follow and we will always be able to get home," he said.

While being a part of a large group gives you a big sound for a good competitive edge, financially speaking, prize money split among 12 singers does not go far.

"You can not make a fortune being a singer. The only fortune that you make is good memories and the way you have touched other people's lives. One of the rules is that if somebody wants to sing, you pass them your chair. If someone is short a drumstick, you hand them one for that song. Others will sacrifice for you to make sure you are well looked after. Being fed and having a place to stay is more than enough. Even in the heat of competition, you respect the spirit of the drum, and other drums as much as your own.

Singers who are out on the powwow trail competing against each other, come round dance time, are all back singing together in the fellowship of the drum," Okanee said.

The Big Bear Singers were incorporated in 1973 by Gary Okanee Sr. and the late Edward Okanee Jr. The group was named to honour the great visionary Chief Big Bear.

Currently there are six family members in the core group, plus several singers from Rocky Boy reservation in Montana who are direct descendants of Big Bear.

"My brothers, Gary, Luke and Willard, and I are descendents of followers of Big Bear's camp. We see ourselves as ambassadors of Big Bear's nation, whose people were scattered between Canada and the U.S.A., and have just recently attained a reserve in Saskatchewan. Great families have honoured us on both sides of the border-the Noons, Tootoosis, Bakers, Roans, Morins, Phelans and Oldverns-all of who have supported us, shared songs and given us the honour to bring these songs and dances home," said Okanee.

There are two distinct singing styles used at the drum: northern, which is higher pitched, and southern, practitioners of which use a lower tone of voice.

Old-time traditional powwows and the much larger international competition powwows always open with a drum song.

The lead singer at the drum initiates the song and is followed by the others, who back him up by joining in unison. Two verses are sung and they are repeated four times.

The intensity and speed of the song builds up until the lead singer ends the chorus with a powerful downbeat.

"Originally, one lead singer used to sing every start. He led the song, controlled the drumbeat, and kept the singers in place. Modern competition has made it more interesting, by having several lead singers," said Okanee.

In pr-contact times, there were whoop-up songs to help warriors brave-up for a war party, a bison hunt or a raid. The ancient warrior spirit is alive and well on the modern powwow trail.

"We call it 'whooping it up' or sakaway, which means 'war whoop,' or 'a good day to die' in Cree," said Okanee. "Many people forget about the old saying, 'the drummers versus the dancers.' Traditional powwow dancers can encounter what we call 'getting bucked off from a song,' being thrown off their rhythm and beat. It is a time-honoured battle between drum and dancer to keep the dancers on their toes, involving a direct challenge, 'the dancers' style versus the drummers' style'. Some dancers don't like it, but fail to see the other side. It is a contest from that point, trying to throw them off their beat. There are guys who, after getting bucked off, ask for another song to redeem themselves. That is frowned upon in our drum, because they were beat, fair and square," said Okanee

Another battle tactic used by the drum is called a trick song.

"At any point in any verse you can stop the song. The dancer is supposed to be able to foretell the stops, nail them, and not go past the drumbeat. Dancers used to wear pounds of bells on their feet just to prove that they could keep up with the drum and stop on time," said Okanee.

The Thunderchild powwow committee recently named the Big Bear Singers and Noon Express host drums for the 2003 Thunderchild powwow scheduled for Aug. 15 to 17.

The host drums' responsibilities include bringing in grand entry and performing the flag song, victory, honour and traditional ceremonies songs.

Host drums do not compete and are available to help celebrate birthdays, giveaways, dance specials and to judge drum contests.

"Thunderchild has had a long history of producing really outstanding singers, essential to our culture and survival. Where does it start, but the fellowship of the drum, the foundation of who we are. My late grandparents Edward and Emma kanee continually gave us their prayers and blessings and are still in the spirit world doing that," said Okanee.