Wuttunee's professionalism shows

Page 14

When entertainer Winston Wuttunnee walked up on stage inside the Alexander Reserve's school gymnasium, March 17, his professionalism as a great performer came through.

Wuttunnee, who had just recently finished a concert in Manitoba, flew down to Edmonton and on the request of the Alexander Reserve, performed for two hours for adults and children alike.

The next day, Wuttunnee would go through rehearsals, and later that same evening he would perform for the Native Nashville North show.

I drove Winston that evening to Alexander, and if we would have gone five miles further, he would have gone to sleep. Such is the demand on an entertainer who is constantly requested to do concerts across the country.

On stage, all of that changed.

"How is everyone here! Am I glad to be here tonight," and then Winston would go into his routines, and all of the energy inside him that he could muster.

He is definitely an act to watch.

People can learn something from Winston. It is said many times that performers must put on an act and are never their natural selves when performing. It maybe that there is truth to this...but not with Winston.

Winston is himself. On stage, the honesty, natural talents and his positive personality are there for everyone to see. It makes negative people a bit uneasy to watch this man talk and sing of things they have always felt deep down inside themselves. And most of all it gives all people watching a Winston Wuttunnee act a chance to laugh, think and be themselves, if just for the moment.

Inside the gym, he sang an Indian warrior's song told to him by his grandfather...a song that told a story of long ago.

"My grandfather sang this song you are singing, Winston, is about two war parties, of Blackfoot and Cree warriors who came upon each other.

"These warriors were young and so they lined up about 500 yards between them. Then a Blackfoot warrior rode up and in front of the Cree warriors while chanting a Blackfoot song.

"He rode back and all of the Blackfoot warriors cheered for him.

"The Cree warriors shot arrows at him and all missed, so this shook them up. Then one of the Cree warriors did the same. He rode his horse in front of the Blackfoot warriors while chanting his song that his horse he rode was a great horse.

"That is what my grandfather told me the song I am going to sing was about. These two brave young war parties," and then Winston with his traditional drum in hand, sang this song and I couldn't help but notice two ladies in the crowd stand in honour of the song.

Winston's performance was not only traditional. He sang a Metis song called "Come Back Marie" that another well-known entertainer and fiddler player, Reg Bouvette, had written music for. It was to this fiddle number that Winston put the words of "Come Back Marie."

He sang a Johnny Horton number while imitating a friend of his back in Saskatchewan, to the applause of the crowd. Between songs, he joked and talked with everyone in the audience...always the professional. When a joke of his didn't work, Winston did not break up, get mad or feel embarrassed...he simply went on to another one that did work.

When he noticed the little children below the stage...playing and laughing, he gave them a show of their own. He sang songs that all of them could relate to and sing along with.

Winston is from the Red Pheasant Reserve in Saskatchewan, near North Battleford, but as a role model who plays his part well, he belongs to all Native people across the country. The part he plays is honest and sincere...that of sharing his talent with everyone he comes in touch with, while performing or just visiting...Winston Wuttunnee is a performer of life.