Haida musician, and Aboriginal-environmental lawyer, Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson talks with APTN about choosing to record songs in the Haida language.
Terri-Lynn's new album New Journeys features traditional Haida music with arrangements by classical composer Bruce Ruddell.
"I felt it was important to sing in the Haida language. There are insights you can gain only through the Haida language so there are concepts I wanted to share with a broader audience that come out through these songs... that probably couldn't reach people if they were in the English language" Terri-Lynn shared with APTN.
The second single off the new Starmakerz Family album brings us a street savvy video and another notch on the belt for this music trio.
The Starmakerz consists of Manik, DJ Sichuan and Magic Touch - the latter known for his production of hit tracks off of the Inez album project. As a team they are now working on a full-length album project as well as prolific video releases. Just in time for the end of summer, That's Nice will be sure to hit your playlists up in that classic Starmakerz way.
Isuma.tv is a fantastic multimedia website for Inuit and Indigenous media culture, focusing on independent media content.
Launched in 2008, Isuma.tv presents cultural, digital media content from Inuit and Indigenous people. This platform encourages Indigenous people to share their stories through digital multimedia. Created by the producers of movie Atanarjuat The Fast Runner, Igloolik Isuma Productions, this webspace is open for people to share their past, present and futures through video, photos and audio.
By creating a channel on Isuma.tv you can share and network with other Indigenous people making digital media and artistry. There are currently over 2600 videos in 46 different Indigenous languages.
The site is available in either high or low bandwidth choices for those in more rural communities.
Igloolik Isuma Productions is winding down it's operations as a film company, but Norman Cohn, one of the Isuma directors, assures that the Isuma.tv initiative will not be affected.
To learn more, or to watch and upload your own films, go to Isuma.tv.
The Potlatch Music blog has brought together a great compilation of west coast potlatch videos from a large group of nations within the 'Potlatch Coast'.
Just across our desk here today at RPM.fm, the Potlatch Music blog is a new blog site that compiles a large number of amazing potlatch videos from nations like the Haida, Nuxalk, Tlingit, Tsimshian, Nuu-chah-nulth, Nisga'a, Kwakwaka'wakw and Coast Salish peoples.
The potlatch is a ceremonial gift-giving festival that has been practiced since time immemorial on the northwest coast of Canada and the United States. In 1884, the potlatch ceremony was banned in Canada and became a criminal act until the 1950's when it started to make a resurgence in the northwest coast Indigenous cultures.
Now thriving within this resurgence, videos and other media have been circulating on the internet and the culture grows as the population of Indigenous nations grow as well. Like the powwow videos that hit YouTube on the Sunday night of the powwow, potlatch videos are showing the strong energy of co-creation through music and culture in these ceremonies.
A lot has changed in societ'y since the early to mid 1900's when Indigenous cultures were illegal and Indigenous people couldn't gather in more than a group of three without intervention of the authorities. Now Indigenous people can enjoy their gatherings as well as invite their loved ones remotely through the comfort of the internet.
The Potlatch Music blog features videos old and new, some from archival footage and more from the newer potlatches of today.
Here's a video from the 2010 Hobiyee Nisga'a New Year celebration's Chiefs entrance:
Hychga to Manik for letting us know about this blog site.
Do you have an Indigenous music blog or website you'd like to share?
Drop us a line at info@rpm.fm or leave us a comment below.
From the first single of the new Starmakerz Family Album, Manik brings us a look into the raw streets of the Downtown East Side of Vancouver B.C. with is new video released for the DJ Sichuan produced song entitled “Hood Miracle”.
Haida/Cree Hiphop artist Manik has been representing the Indigenous Hiphop scene from Vancouver since the 90's and is now well known in the North American MC battle circuit. As a member of Stressed Street movement, The Starmakerz Family and the Sundayskool Dropoutz, he has been a monumental force within the Indigenous music scene.
Rapsure Risin’ – The Lights Go Out
Discreet Da Chosen 1 – Ma Letter
JB The First Lady – Get Ready Get Steady
K.A.S.P. – On A Roll
Kristi Lane Sinclair – Last Song
Optikz – Gifted
Manik – Commercial Drive
M’Girl – Eyes Wide Open
Ry Moran – Dreams Of Grey
Urban Buffaloes – Regret Nothing
There's no way we could ever fit all West Coast Indigenous music videos in one playlist, so stay tuned for more playlists from the RPM YouTube Channel.
What videos would you like to see featured on our YouTube channel and playlists?
Send us your video picks on our Get Involved page and Suggest An Artist.
RPM Records
Revolutions Per Minute is a global new music platform, record label, and boutique agency for Indigenous music culture. RPM’s mission is to build a visionary community of Indigenous artists and to introduce Indigenous music to new audiences across Turtle Island and around the world. Our main site, RPM.fm, has featured the work of more than 500 Indigenous artists and shared their music across our social networks of more than 275,000 followers.
RPM Records is the first of its kind: a label for contemporary, cross-genre Indigenous music, run by Indigenous people. Selected by The FADER as one of “5 New Canadian Record Labels The Entire World Should Know”, RPM Records artists include Ziibiwan, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Exquisite Ghost, and Mob Bounce.
