Pow Wow – The Songs

• Donald Dupree

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: October 29, 2014

  Donald shares his experience as a lead singer in a drum group. Donald also shares how much help sharing the 'Healing Song' can help himself as well as the ones that he and the drum group sing that song for.

• Joel Boshey

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: October 29, 2014

  Joel has been singing on the drum for 25 years, as of 2014, with the Lake Vermilion drum group. He shares the first songs that he learned: the grand entry song, flag song, veterans song, the MC song. The basic songs of the pow wow and how much they filled him with a good feeling while singing.

• Kenneth Boney

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: October 29, 2014

  Ken tells how he was introduced to the Midi Lodge when he was very young and is helping to bring what he knows back to the people. Ken shares some history about the water drum and how it came to be in this area.

• Sarah Curtis

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: October 23, 2014

  Sarah is a hand drum singer and got her start as a singer because of a canceled workshop and the replacement presenter shared their hand drum experiences. Sarah shares about a song that she sings which she describes as an anthem of solidarity for women that need strength or healing.

• Shane Drift

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: October 23, 2014

  Shane is the drum keeper for the Drift traditional drum, which is a type of drum that does not travel off the reservation unless for a specific event. Shane shares how the Drift drum came to be, from a dream that came to an elder and this dream came with a song for the veterans to bring them home from a time of war. All the veterans that this song was sang for, returned home as indicated by this dream.

• Zach Hartlie

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: October 23, 2014

  Zach is from the Bad River Reservation and shares his knowledge of the Buck and Doe dance. The Swan dance is a dance about how the seasons change and is a dance for the women or a women's dance.

• Curt Goodsky

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: October 22, 2014

  Curt shares his perspective of what 'Traditional' means. Being traditional today means one thing to some and something else to him. Being a person who 'lives with the world versus someone who dominates and tries to conform the world around them'.

• George Strong

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: October 22, 2014

  George shares how he learned the duties of being a Master of Ceremonies for pow wows. George has been interested in singing on the drum since he was about 16 years old.

• Jerome Whiteman

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: October 22, 2014

  Jerome talks about his youth and not participating in the pow wow circle until later in life. Jerome shares wisdom about life and teachings he learned from dancing and singing since he started to participate more in the pow wow circle.

• Demetri Morris

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: September 25, 2014

  Demetri shares a little about different songs, such as the Fish Dance, the Buck and Doe Dance, the Swan dance.

• Terry Lightfeather

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: September 25, 2014

  Terry lives in Vermilion and is a member of the Lake Vermilion Singers. Terry is one of the drum group's song makers. Terry has been a singer on the drum since his teens years and it is a big part of his life. The drum group has taken him to many different states to attend pow wows and celebrations.

• Donald Chosa

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: September 17, 2014

  Donald shares knowledge of forgotten songs and dances. Some Songs and dances are specific to this area while others are introduced to our local celebrations or pow wows.

• Pete Gahbow

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: July 19, 2014

  Pete has been singing for many years since he was a young boy. He recalls when he first started singing, he didn't know what an 'inter tribal' song was. The only songs he and his brother's knew were side step songs.

• Ricky Defoe

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: July 19, 2014

  Ricky talks about his role as a Spiritual Advisor during pow wows. Bii Maa Dii Zii Win 'living a good life' is a strong influencer in how Ricky strives to live his life and being around the drum is a strong part of that healthy living.

• Larry Amik Smallwood

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: July 12, 2014

  Amik describes some of his activities as MC or Master of Ceremonies during Pow Wows. He provides some history about how Pow Wows have developed over the years. Amik tells how the Grand Entry Dance was introduced into todays Pow Wows. Amik also talks about the roles and responsibilities of Singers around the drum.

• Calvin Ottertail

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: July 12, 2014

  Calvin shares lessons about the history of the drum and how important respect is to have to others in the circle of the Pow Wow area.

• Curt Moon

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: July 12, 2014

  Curt describes how he got his Onieda name. Curt shares how there are different songs depending on the ceremony that is being conducted. Curt is a traditional dancer and this is shared with the designs of his regalia.

• Elroy Lightfeather

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: July 12, 2014

  Elroy found personal healing by participating in pow wows through singing and helping. Elroy shares a teaching of caring for the drum as an 'Elder' and not leave it alone, nor wear shorts while singing, even when it is hot out. There are various protocols that are important to remember and follow when singing on the drum.

• Harold Goodsky

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: July 12, 2014

  Harold aka Dayshun, shares how he felt about not being 'traditional' when he was younger. He left the reservation, got his education and returned to help his people. Harold has been a big influence in sharing his knowledge of songs, traditions since he became more involved with his traditional culture.

• Henry Goodsky

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: July 12, 2014

  Henry shares his history of becoming a Master of Ceremonies for pow wows, interpretor of invocations, spiritual advisor and singing 'Old' songs of the Ojibwe nation.

• John Homer Weaver

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: July 12, 2014

  John shares his knowledge of songs used during the pow wow and his experience as an MC or Master of Ceremonies during the pow wow. John tells about the Duck and Dive dance.

• Jack Kingbird

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: April 29, 2014

  Jack has been singing since he was a very young man and became a teacher of traditions, values and songs. He also shares his views of non natives singing on the drum.

• Opie Day

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: April 29, 2014

  Opie started singing on the drum when he was young and since then has sang with many popular drum groups throughout Indian Country. Being a drum leader requires that he makes sure his singers have rides and such to get to the pow wows that they will be participating in.

• Pow Wow the Youth

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: April 29, 2014

  Harvey Goodsky. Jr, Algin Goodsky, Brian Stillday and Devon Stillday share their experiences growing up singing and dancing around the drum groups and pow wows.

• Virgil Blacklance

  Pow Wow The Songs

  Production Date: April 29, 2014

  Virgil is a member of the Souix Nation and shares his knowledge of the drum and songs which are a big part of his life. Virgil shares the story about how the Big Drum came to the Ojibwe from the Souix as a gift for peace long ago.