Northern Cree | |
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Origin | Maskwacis |
Genres | powwow |
Years active | 1980/82–present |
Northern Cree, also known as the Northern Cree Singers, is a powwow and Round Dance drum and singing group based in Maskwacis,[1][2] Alberta, Canada.[3] Formed in 1980 (or 1982[4]) by Randy Wood,[1][2] with brothers Charlie and Earl Wood of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation (Plains Indian music), members originate from the Treaty 6 area. These include Ferlin McGillvary, Steve Wood, Joel Wood,[5] and Conan Yellowbird.
Regarded as one of the best acts in modern Native American powwow music,[6] they have been named one of the most respected powwow groups in North America[1] and the world.[2] The group, or their music, has been described as remarkably unified and powerful,[7] attention-grabbing, and energetic.[8]
They have been nominated for six Grammy Awards[9] and two Juno Awards. In 2017, the Singers, along with founder Randy Wood and Tanya Tagaq, won a Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year – Large Ensemble for the album Going Home Star.[10]
According to Allmusic they have over twenty albums out; according to their website, they have released 37, mostly live recordings, on Canyon Records. Albums include:
They were featured in the film Grey Owl (1999).[11][12] They are featured on the album Gathering of Nations Pow Wow 1999 (2000, Soar Records), which won a Grammy in 2001.[13] The group is featured in the song and music video "Indomitable" by DJ Shub, which was nominated for Best EDM/Dance Video in the 2017 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards and won Best Music Video in the Native American Music Awards.[14] They are featured on the CDs which accompany David Bouchard's children's books in Cree and English: Nokum Is My Teacher (2006) and The Drum Calls Softly (2008), both on Red Deer Press.[1][2]
Year | Award | Category | Nominee/Work | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | Grammy | Best Native American Music Album | Rockin' the Rez | Nominated | [15] |
2004 | Grammy | Best Native American Music Album | Still Rezin' | Nominated | [16] |
2007 | Grammy | Best Native American Music Album | Northern Cree & Friends, Vol. 5: Long Winter Nights | Nominated | [17] |
2007 | Juno Award | Aboriginal Recording of the Year | Stay Red | Nominated | [18] |
2009 | Grammy | Best Native American Music Album | Red Rock: Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at Muckleshoot | Nominated | [19] |
2010 | Grammy | Best Native American Music Album | True Blue | Nominated | [20] |
2011 | Grammy | Best Native American Music Album | Temptations: Cree Round Dance Songs | Nominated | [21] |
2017 | Grammy | Best Regional Roots Music Album | It's a Cree Thing | Nominated | [22] |
2017 | Juno Award | Classical Album of the Year – Large Ensemble | Going Home Star | Won | [10] |
2018 | Grammy | Best Regional Roots Music Album | Miyo Kekisepa, Make a Stand [Live] | Nominated | [23] |
2019 | Juno Award | Indigenous Music Album of the Year | Nitisanak - Brothers and Sister | Nominated | [24] |
2020 | Grammy | Best Regional Roots Music Album | When It's Cold - Cree Round Dance Songs | Nominated | [25] |