Willie Dunn
His Voice is Beautiful
His Voice is Beautiful
Shea Turner-Matthews
Willie Dunn, a folk musician and film director, was born in 1941 in Montreal, Quebec. He identifies as both Scottish and Mi’kmaq, a first nations group originally located in Newfoundland and Labrador. His indigenous roots played a great role in his, music, film, and life as an indigenous activist, because he strives to express himself in his music and be a voice for indigenous issues. To quote Willie, "It's important for aboriginal people to tell their own stories, because Hollywood has done enough."
He is most well know for his album Son on the Sun and his 1968 National Film, The Ballad of Crowfoot, about a 19th century chief of the Blackfoot tribe. These works won numerous international awards. His music has inspired many, both in his community and around the world, and in 2005 he won the Indigenous Music Awards, and was made part of the Aboriginal Walk of Honour in Edmonton. He passed away on 5 August 2013, but will forever be known by the name Roha’tiio, given to him by a Mohawk chief in Akwesasne and meaning, “his voice is beautiful."
Sources: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/first-nations-troubadour-willie-dunn-sang-truth-to-power/article15038007/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/first-nations-troubadour-willie-dunn-sang-truth-to-power/article15038007/
He is most well know for his album Son on the Sun and his 1968 National Film, The Ballad of Crowfoot, about a 19th century chief of the Blackfoot tribe. These works won numerous international awards. His music has inspired many, both in his community and around the world, and in 2005 he won the Indigenous Music Awards, and was made part of the Aboriginal Walk of Honour in Edmonton. He passed away on 5 August 2013, but will forever be known by the name Roha’tiio, given to him by a Mohawk chief in Akwesasne and meaning, “his voice is beautiful."
Sources: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/first-nations-troubadour-willie-dunn-sang-truth-to-power/article15038007/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/first-nations-troubadour-willie-dunn-sang-truth-to-power/article15038007/