William

"Willie" Dunn

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/first-nations-troubadour-willie-dunn-sang-truth-to-power/article15038007/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_North_America,_Vol._1

Willie Dunn

Born in Montreal with a Mi'kmaq, Scotish/Irish Background

"It's important for aboriginal people to tell their own stories,because Hollywood has done enough." - Willie Dunn

Willie Dunn was a musicain, politician and film director(The Ballade of Crowfoot). He was fighting for change, growing up without role models he could have followed.

He always said that reclaiming a voice for native people is critical because optimism and hope haven't brought change.

This article captures a lot of information about his life and achivements. Like how he learned guitar by sneaking into cafés in Montreal or how he performed Shakespears sonnets as a kid, in his own way, with drums.

HE WROtE AbOUT THINGS, NO oNE TaLKeD ABoUT.

helped establish the Native Council of Canada

HE worked from being harassed in small bars to going to Europe and record music in Germany and playing in large venues. ¹

All in all he was a very interresting and admirable person, who used their voice.

I pity the country

listen to the track!

It is the first on the album Native North America Vol 1. Which is an album with music from Aburiginal artists from Canada and the northern United States only, it contains mainly unknown songs from 1966 to 1985 that are scarily undocumented. They are all revolutionary and take their rightful place in history by being on this album.

Native North America

Native North America (Vol. 1) is a compilation of 23 unsung indigenous music acts, dating from 1966 to 1985 and ranging in everything from rockabilly to folk. For Canadian producer Kevin Howes, it was also a labour of love, and something that took some 15 years of his life to complete. The album is up for best historical album at the 2016 Grammy Awards. It will also mark the first award recognition of this scale for artists on the compilation. 2

The album is an incredible ambitious and historically significant project.

Find more information on this website.

It was planned by Kevin 'siperano' Howes. You can read about him here. And listen to a short Radio Interview here.




Track listing

  1. Willie Dunn, "I Pity the Country"

  2. John Angaiak, "I'll Rock You to the Rhythm of the Ocean"

  3. Sugluk, "Fall Away"

  4. Sikumiut, "Sikumiut"

  5. Willie Thrasher, "Spirit Child"

  6. Willy Mitchell, "Call of the Moose"

  7. Lloyd Cheechoo, "James Bay"

  8. Alexis Utatnaq, "Maqaivvigivalauqtavut"

  9. Brian Davey, "Dreams of Ways"

  10. Morley Loon, "N'Doheeno"

  11. Peter Frank, "Little Feather"

  12. Ernest Monias, "Tormented Soul"

  13. Eric Landry, "Out of the Blue"

  14. David Campbell, "Sky-Man and the Moon"

  15. Willie Dunn, "Son of the Sun"

  16. Shingoose with Duke Redbird, "Silver River"

  17. Willy Mitchell and Desert River Band, "Kill'n Your Mind"

  18. Philippe McKenzie, "Mistashipu"

  19. Willie Thrasher, "Old Man Carver"

  20. Lloyd Cheechoo, "Winds of Change"

  21. The Chieftones, "I Shouldn't Have Did What I Done"

  22. Sugluk, "I Didn't Know"

  23. Lawrence Martin, "I Got My Music"

  24. Gordon Dick, "Siwash Rock"

  25. Willy Mitchell and Desert River Band, "Birchbark Letter"

  26. William Tagoona, "Anaanaga"

  27. Leland Bell, "Messenger"

  28. Saddle Lake Drifting Cowboys, "Modern Rock"

  29. Willie Thrasher, "We Got to Take You Higher"

  30. Sikumiut, "Utirumavunga"

  31. Sugluk, "Ajuinnarasuarsunga"

  32. John Angaiak, "Hey, Hey, Hey, Brother"

  33. Groupe Folklorique Montagnais, "Tshekuan Mak Tshetutamak"

  34. Willie Dunn and Jerry Saddleback, "Peruvian Dream"