News

December 31, 2006

Quarterly News

Winter 2005/2006

by Art Napoleon

Tansi everyone. This first seasonal update represents pipon… winter.

Recorded new project Miyoskamin (partially funded by Canada Council) at the Woodshop Studio near Duncan BC, so I was very busy and in creative hermit mode except for my performances right up until February. The project was another great learning experience that helps me move forward on my journey wherever it may lead. Now that the CD is out, the work continues. Wrote a bunch of new songs in English and Cree that never even made it on the CD so they’ll have to be on a future recording. Next one may be a kid’s CD with a focus on learning Cree language. I’d love to help preserve our hip, cool and extremely relevant language. We’ll see what develops.

I am receiving more requests to do children’s festivals this year for some reason and I’m actually starting to enjoy it. Kids are so appreciative and open to new ideas. They can also be the toughest audience to please so if you do well with the little rascals you’re doing ok as a performer. I’ve been coming up with a lot of Cree lullabies for my infant daughter so I’m sure it’s linked and connected.

A few months ago I was involved on a documentary film idea involving my home territory of Treaty 8 and the impacts of resource industries on the traditional Cree and Dane-zaa (Dene) way of life. There was even interest from the CBC but the project is temporarily on hold. As traditional Indigenous people (along with those who support us) well know, the land-based hunting and gathering life-style is under siege everywhere all in the name of the almighty dollar. In BC, people of the north are the ones who get their lands decimated while urban areas reap the rewards. Hope to continue with this project as it’s a story that needs to get out there.

Lately I’ve been serving on various arts juries and advisory committees and doing short tours in the Lower Mainland. Will be heading off to a songwriting camp in Gimli, Manitoba for a whole week in March where I will be hooking up with fellow songwriters from across the country. Should be interesting. Excited about my CD Release Concert on April 15th at Gibson Auditorium in Victoria. Hope to see some of you there. Have a 3 week tour of schools in the Stikine and Northwest Coastal regions in May followed by the Calgary Children’s Festival and a fundraiser on Galiano Island for Native addictions awareness. You might gather that since I have many interests, I do quite a broad range of gigs which only makes life more interesting. There are never dull moments, traveling and meeting new and interesting people from all walks of life and getting a feel for their lands and communities. We folkie musical travelers may not make much dough but we are certainly blessed. I want to thank all the people who come out to shows and purchase CD’s. Please drop a line. I love feedback and good ideas. Unless our trails cross sooner, I’ll see you in the moon of budding leaves eh.