Voices preserve, advance culture

Page 12

REVIEW

Hearts of the Nations:

Aboriginal Women's Voices. . . in the Studio 1997

Sweetgrass Records

"A nation is not defeated until the hearts of its women are buried in the ground." Forgive me if I don't remember what nation this proverb comes from, but its meaning becomes clear in this new CD from the Aboriginal Arts Program, which is a partnership between the Aboriginal Film and Video Art Alliance and the Banff Centre for the Arts.

These women singing joyfully prove that these nations are not defeated, and never will be. The 12 women came from Aboriginal communities across North America and were brought together early in 1997. Each singer was asked to bring a song from her own community to teach the others, and they also created eight new songs. Hearts of the Nations , a combination of songs is the result.

Representing the Seneca, Zuni, Métis, Tuscarora, Kainaiwa, Pottawatomi, Mohawk, Salish, and Mayan-Apache-Yacqui nations, the women on this disc combine traditional songs with newly written songs that are inspired by traditional singing. The music they've recorded proves that culture can remain true to its roots, but doesn't have to stand still.

When given a CD with this much passion and fire, you feel compelled as a reviewer to match its creativity in the review. Let's just say, it's a very good CD for many reasons: the voices are magnificent, the arrangements are brilliant, and its very well produced.

Okay, so that isn't so creative and passionate a description. But me simply saying go out and buy this disc because I think it's great should be enough of a reason to do so. If that doesn't convince you, then consider some of the incredible amount of talent that was brought together for this project. There's Jani Lauzon, a Métis singer-songwriter, actor and puppeteer, who also plays traditional and contemporary flute. Lauzon has had an impressive career as a blues singer, earning a Juno nomination for her first CD, Blue Voice, New Voice. Jennifer Kreisberg is a Tuscarora singer who's voice you've probably heard with the trio Ulali. There's also another member of Ulali, Soni Moreno, who is from the Mayan, Apache and Yacqui nations. Moreno has sung on Broadway as well. Flora Wallace is a Salish woman who sings traditional songs from Lillooet, B.C., and who has spent her lifetime gathering traditional songs of the nations of interior British Columbia. Sadie Buck, from the Turtle Clan of the Seneca Nation, was the artistic director of this project. It was largely her vision that makes this disc come alive.