Jerry Alfred (born 1955 in
Mayo Mayo often refers to:
* Mayonnaise, often shortened to "mayo"
* Mayo Clinic, a medical center in Rochester, Minnesota, United States
Mayo may also refer to:
Places
Antarctica
* Mayo Peak, Marie Byrd Land
Australia
* Division of Mayo, an Aust ...
,
Yukon
Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...
) is a
Northern Tutchone
The Northern Tutchone are a First Nations people of the Athabaskan-speaking ethnolinguistic group living mainly in the central Yukon in Canada.
Language and culture
The Northern Tutchone language, originally spoken by the Northern Tutchone p ...
musician living in
Pelly Crossing,
Yukon
Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...
. He received a 1996
Juno Award for his recording ''ETSI Shon'' (Grandfather Song) in the category
Aboriginal Recording of the Year. His music was featured as part of a Native American photo exhibit at the
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...
in Atlanta.
Early life
Alfred was born in the community of
Mayo Mayo often refers to:
* Mayonnaise, often shortened to "mayo"
* Mayo Clinic, a medical center in Rochester, Minnesota, United States
Mayo may also refer to:
Places
Antarctica
* Mayo Peak, Marie Byrd Land
Australia
* Division of Mayo, an Aust ...
,
Yukon
Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...
in September 1955 into traditional life and speaking the
Northern Tutchone
The Northern Tutchone are a First Nations people of the Athabaskan-speaking ethnolinguistic group living mainly in the central Yukon in Canada.
Language and culture
The Northern Tutchone language, originally spoken by the Northern Tutchone p ...
language, a skill which he kept alive in spite of having been sent to residential English speaking schools at the age of five. Alfred was born into the Crow Clan and inherited the title of "Keeper of the Songs" from his father. This position gave him the responsibility of collecting traditional songs and performing at ceremonial events of his people, the
Selkirk First Nation The Selkirk First Nation (Hucha Hudan people) is a First Nation self-government in the Canadian territory, Yukon. Its original population centre was the trading post of Fort Selkirk, Yukon along the Yukon River, but most of its citizens now live in ...
. Alfred's position also involved his representing the clan at
potlatches, or meetings with the broader Yukon Aboriginal community.
He was named "Keeper of the Songs" at birth, an honorary title which he has made into a career, updating traditional Tutchone music by adding twentieth century Western influences. Alfred's musical training began when he was placed in a choir while at the residential schools. His parents bought him his first guitar when he was seven, and he began learning in earnest in his teens, probably due to the influence of
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...
, an influence which still lives in Alfred's music today. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Alfred played a large role in negotiations with the
Government of Canada
The government of Canada (french: gouvernement du Canada) is the body responsible for the federal administration of Canada. A constitutional monarchy, the Crown is the corporation sole, assuming distinct roles: the executive, as the ''Crown ...
over the Selkirk people's
Land Claim
A land claim is defined as "the pursuit of recognized territorial ownership by a group or individual". The phrase is usually only used with respect to disputed or unresolved land claims. Some types of land claims include aboriginal land claims, A ...
, which culminated in an agreement in 1995. In 1996, he received a
Juno Award as Jerry Alfred & The Medicine Beat for
Best Music for Aboriginal Canada Recording.
In 1994, Alfred's father made a special effort to engage Alfred in his people's songs again, and when his father died, Alfred was inspired to release a record, 1994's "Etsi Shon", or "Grandfather Song", which served the dual purpose of keeping alive the music and the language of the Selkirk people. Alfred has since released two other albums, "Nendaa" (Go Back) in 1996, and Kehlonn in 1998, with his band, Medicine Beat.
Today, Alfred hopes to pass the position of Song Keeper to his eldest daughter, Cenjeya ("Cute one"), who along with his youngest daughter, Saanuwa ("precious one"), he is teaching the traditions and music.
Discography
Jerry Alfred and the Medicine Beat (1994) ''Etsi Shon: Grandfather Song'' (Whitehourse, Independent production by Jerry Alfred).
Jerry Alfred and the Medicine Beat (1996) ''Nendaä: Go Back'' (Whitehorse, Etsi Shon Productions) Caribou Records 7 7863 105962 8.
Jerry Alfred and the Medicine Beat (1998) ''Kehlonn'' (Whitehorse, Jerry Alfred) Caribou Records 7 78631 98302 0.
See also
*
Music of Canada
The music of Canada reflects the diverse influences that have shaped the country. Indigenous Peoples, the Irish, British, and the French have all made unique contributions to the musical heritage of Canada. The music has also subsequently been ...
*
Aboriginal music of Canada
Indigenous music of Canada encompasses a wide variety of musical genres created by Aboriginal Canadians. Before European settlers came to what is now Canada, the region was occupied by many First Nations, including the West Coast Salish and Haid ...
*
First Nations music
Indigenous music of Canada encompasses a wide variety of musical genres created by Aboriginal Canadians. Before European settlers came to what is now Canada, the region was occupied by many First Nations, including the West Coast Salish and Haid ...
*
Jim Robb (painter)
*
List of Canadian musicians
This is a list of Canadian musicians. Only notable individuals appear here; bands are listed at List of bands from Canada.
0-9
*347aidan - rapper
A
* Lee Aaron – jazz and rock singer-songwriter, also known as "Metal Queen"
*Abdominal – hi ...
References
;Citations
External links
biographyfrom Festival Distribution, Inc.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alfred, Jerry
Date of birth missing (living people)
1955 births
Living people
20th-century First Nations people
Canadian folk singer-songwriters
Canadian male singer-songwriters
First Nations musicians
Juno Award for Indigenous Music Album of the Year winners
Musicians from Yukon
Red House Records artists
Tutchone people