Essential Song: Three Decades of Northern Cree Music

Foreword

vii [ Foreword As a valuable resource of musical heritage for the Cree Nation, this book offers an opportunity for all readers to gain an awareness of the struggle, strength, and wisdom of Indigenous people. It also supports the need to include, respect, and preserve Indigenous cultures as an integral part of human heritage and the cultural landscape of this country. The loss of oral traditions has proven to be greater with increasing advancements in technology over the past century. However, with the new technologies and tools readily accessible to our youth, future generations may be able to record and retell our fragile traditions and preserve our endangered culture. Essential Song presents a culturally significant outline of the musical history of my people known as Northern Cree First Nations. Lynn Whidden traces the unique and poignant story of traditional Cree songs, within the context of their history and natural environment, through their evolution and abandonment due to the impact and imposition of western values , culture, religion, and music. Eric Robinson Eric Robinson, born in Norway House Cree Nation and a member of the Cross Lake Cree Nation and Treaty #5, currently serves as Minister of Aboriginal and Northern affairs for the Province of Manitoba. Eric’s vision, strength, and tireless commitment to improving the lives and opportunities of his people are based on his continued practice of traditional values, language, and ceremonies. Part of his continuing role as traditional teacher and leader includes facilitating ceremonies and celebrations as well as serving as a master of ceremonies for powwows. His first introduction to the author occurred through a music class taught by Lynn Whidden while he attended Inter-Universities North in 1979. This page intentionally left blank ...