This is one of the few recordings from Canyon Records which appears to be out of print, so we'll pass along the download for this great collection of pow wow songs, recorded here in Calgary 50 years ago. [i]From the liner notes:[/i] THE SINGERS: Wayne Plume Dean Plume George White Man Dominic Cross Child Joe Beebe Wayne Beebe Theresa Plume Georgina White Man Diana Bull Shields Recorded by Raymond Boley at Calgary, Alberta, Canada February 1975 The Blood Reserve, covering 540 square miles or 354,000 acres, is located in the southern portion of the province of Alberta. Blood Reserve boundaries are situated between the Belly River and St. Mary's River and run in a southerly direction from the forks of these streams for about forty miles to within fourteen miles of the International Boundary between the United States and Canada. The Blood Indians are a part of the nation called Blackfeet or Blackfoot. The Blood call themselves "Nitsi- tapi, the real people." Another name they call themselves is "Ahkainah, or Kainah," which means Many Chiefs. Many of the Nitsitapi are becoming concerned about the loss of song, language. They remember that when they were children the ways of the Nitsitapi were their everyday way of life. They had learned by singing, watching, or by listening to the songs and stories the elders told in the evenings and in the long cold season. They had also learned by participating with the elders in the ways of their people. In this way, they gradually and unconsciously absorbed their culture which was all about them. The people, feeling a need for a learning, teaching and participating unit, organized the Kai-Spai Society in 1970. Kai-Spai Society sponsors many social gatherings that are conducive to teaching and learning the culture of the Nitsitapi. In their social gatherings all members participate. Activities are intimately concerned with inter-tribal and intra-tribal fellowship. The basic motive is the renewal of acquaintance with the tribal culture through social contact. This cultural awareness also brings about solidarity among the Nitsitapi through participation of tribal members. Of their activities today, the pow-wows are most popular. The pow-wow has become the important cultural social gathering that is achieving significant importance as a vehicle for increasing pride in tribal cultural heritage. Today's pow-wow is a vestige of the Grass Dance that began its spread across the Indian Nations during the 1800's. A pow-wow usually takes place during a weekend. This affords the "Indian" an opportunity to take off his European attire and put on his regalia and be a Nitsitapi. When he or she dons the Indian apparel, there is an awakening of the Spirit, which can actually be felt at the pow-wow. The men sing and let their voices go. Sometimes, they are joined by the women and by the young who are learning to sing. The men dance and show their skill. The ladies gracefully dance and weave through the children who are learning the dances. This sight is true beauty and spirit on parade. There are many different types of dancing during the course of a pow-wow. The men's war dance is danced more than any other. This dance is individualistic, although, there are common steps and common body movements. Not only are there different types of dancing, but literally hundreds of songs are composed by the singers every year. The song sung for war dance accompaniment mainly conforms to a basic structure, and is often sung without words, only vocables. Usually, at a pow-wow you will not hear the same song twice. Today the social activities such as the pow-wow, stick games, songs, and language are the most important factors in keeping tribal people together. Notes... S'waptsa Leroy B. Selam (Yakima)
