Northern Cree, also known as the Northern Cree Singers, is a

powwow A powwow (also pow wow or pow-wow) is a gathering with dances held by many Native American and First Nations communities. Powwows today allow Indigenous people to socialize, dance, sing, and honor their cultures. Powwows may be private or pu ...

and Round Dance drum and singing group, based in

Maskwacis Maskwacis (; cr, ᒪᐢᑿᒌᐢ, ), renamed in 2014 from Hobbema (), is an unincorporated community in central Alberta, Canada at intersection of Highway 2A and Highway 611, approximately south of the City of Edmonton. The community consists ...

, Bouchard, David (2006). ''Nokum Is My Teacher'', Postface. Illustrated by Allen Sapp. Music by Northern Cree.

Red Deer Press Red Deer Press is a Canadian book publishing company located in Leaside, Ontario. It publishes trade titles in children's fiction, literary fiction, poetry, drama, belles-lettres, and creative nonfiction focusing on the Canadian prairies. Red ...

. .Bouchard, David and Willier, Shelley (2008). ''The Drum Calls Softly'', Postface. Illustrated by Jim Poitras. Music by Northern Cree. Red Deer Press. .

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

, Canada. Formed in 1980 (or 1982) by Randy Wood, with brothers Charlie and Earl Wood of the

Saddle Lake Cree Nation Saddle Lake Cree Nation ( cr, ᐅᓂᐦᒋᑭᐢᑿᐱᐏᓂᕽ, onihcikiskwapiwinihk) is a Plains Cree, First Nations community, located in the ''Amiskwacīwiyiniwak'' (" Beaver Hills") region of central Alberta, Canada. The Nation is a signator ...

(

Plains Indian music Indigenous music of North America, which includes American Indian music or Native American music, is the music that is used, created or performed by Indigenous peoples of North America, including Native Americans in the United States and Abori ...

), members originate from the

Treaty 6 Treaty 6 is the sixth of the numbered treaties that were signed by the Canadian Crown and various First Nations between 1871 and 1877. It is one of a total of 11 numbered treaties signed between the Canadian Crown and First Nations. Specifica ...

area. These include Ferlin McGillvary, Steve Wood, Joel Wood, as well as Conan Yellowbird. Regarded as one of the best acts in modern Native American powwow music, they have been named one of the most respected pow-wow groups in North America and the world. The group, or their music, has been described as remarkably unified and powerful, attention-grabbing, arresting hypnotic, intense, passionate, exciting, energetic, and energizing. They have been nominated for six

Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

and nominated for 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''."Gord Downie wins three Junos at music awards gala dinner Saturday night"
''London Free Press'', Lynn Saxberg and Peter Hum. April 1, 2017

Discography

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: * ''Rockin' the Rez'' (2001) * ''Still Rezin'' (2003) * ''Northern Cree & Friends, Vol. 5: Long Winter Nights'' (2006) * ''Stay Red'' (2006) * ''Red Rock: Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at Muckleshoot'' (2008) * ''True Blue'' (2009) * ''Temptations: Cree Round Dance Songs'' (2010) ''It's a Cree Thing'' (2016) * ''Ewipihcihk'': ᐁᐏᐱᐦᒋᐦᐠ to go Round Dancing (with)," or, "he/she goes Round Dancing (with)"(2016) *Nitisanak - Brothers and Sister (2018) They were featured in the film '' Grey Owl'' (1999). They are featured on the album ''

Gathering of Nations Pow Wow 1999 ''Gathering of Nations Pow Wow 1999'' is a compilation album by various artists, released on May 23, 2000. The album features music from the annual event "Gathering of Nations Pow Wow" in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It contains live recordings from ...

'' (2000, Soar Records), which won a Grammy in 2001. The group is featured in the song and music video "Indomitable" by

DJ Shub DJ Shub (Dan General) is a Mohawk DJ and music producer and member of the Six Nations of the Grand River. He has won numerous awards for his work as a former member of A Tribe Called Red, a DJ, and for solo pursuits. Career Shub began practis ...

, 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. They are featured on the CDs which accompany

David Bouchard David Bouchard is a Canadian author and former high school principal. Bouchard was born and raised in Saskatchewan. He is a Member of the Order of Canada and a public school in Oshawa, Ontario is named after him. In his 2017 book, ''Proud to Be ...

's children's books in Cree and English: ''Nokum Is My Teacher'' (2006) and ''The Drum Calls Softly'' (2008), both on

Awards and nominations

Members

* Charlie Wood * Earl Wood * Ferlin McGilvery * Joel Wood * Steve Wood

References

{{Authority control First Nations musical groups Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year – Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) with Large Ensemble Accompaniment winners Musical groups from Alberta Plains Indian music Cree culture