New "Redskin Rockstarr" Mixtape From J Dizzay

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Cree rap artist J Dizzay released his new mixtape Redskin Rockstarr this week as a free download. Stream or download it here.

J Dizzay has had a busy year of recording and releasing tracks through his social networks as well as the release of his debut album Flying High which is available on iTunes.

Just in time for the holiday season, J Dizzay released his new mixtape entitled Redskin Rockstarr for a free download. The mixtape includes 13 tracks and is definitely something you should have in your collection.

Track Listing
  1. Redskin Rockstar Intro
  2. Bet it All Remix Ft. Mella D
  3. California Dreaming (freestyle)
  4. Like a G Ft. Travis Porter
  5. Redskin Rockstar Interlude
  6. Space Swag
  7. Redskin Rockstar
  8. Time After Time
  9. Without You (Dirty) + Lil' Pappie
  10. It's One + Kid Ink
  11. Redskin Rockstar Outro
  12. Without You (Clean) + Lil' Pappie

Jana Mashonee Is Not Just About The Music

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Today Lumbee singer-songwriter Jana Mashonee released a new single, Stay With Me Baby. In this exclusive audio interview, Jana chats with RPM about her career path as an Indigenous female musician and her dedication to promoting her culture in this audio interview.

Jana also speaks about her work as a mentor and the creation of her non-profit organization Jana's Kids, which you can read more about in our feature Music Mentor: Jana Mashonee, Lumbee Musician.

Get her new single Stay With Me Baby on iTunes.

Listen to the Jana Mashonee interview here:

VIDEO: Mama D - "Mr. Businessman's Blues"

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Filmed at Occupy Toronto and other spots of material consumption, Cree singer-songwriter Mama D brings us a video vision of her song Mr. Businessman's Blues from her brand new album Beauty and Hard Times.

Thank you to Lise Vaugeois for writing us and suggesting we check out this video. Beauty and Hard Times is coming in Spring 2012, though you can get a download of it now at emusic.com.

Archival Remix Project "General Generations" Featuring A Tribe Called Red

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A Tribe Called Red collaborates with archival wax cylinder recordings made by Cayuga chief Alexander J. General in the 1930s to create new track General Generations.

Nolan Warden, a PhD candidate in ethnomusicology at UCLA, was blown away when he first came across A Tribe Called Red (ATCR) and contacted them to see if they would be interested in giving archival field recordings a new life. ATCR, being the sweethearts they are, enthusiastically agreed. After sifting through various recordings to find just the right match, they settled on an archival wax recording of Cayuga chief Alexander J. General (Deskáheh).This seemed liked the destined fit since both Bear Witness and DJ Shub are Cayugan and DJ Shub's name is Dan General. The possibility of a family connection got them all excited and they created this incredible collaboration which starts out with a clever sample of the archive indexer's voice.

Listen to their collaboration here:

STREAM: A Tribe Called Red - "General Generations" General Generations by A Tribe Called Red

DOWNLOAD: Lena Recollet - "Personal Power"

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Anishnaabe poet, actress, vocalist and visual artist Lena Recollet, from Wikwemikong, Ontario, on Manitoulin Island, released her first EP this year - Soul Speaking. A poetry film of the track Historical Landmark premiered at the 2011 imagineNATIVE festival and Lena opened for Buffy Sainte Marie that same week. This is our favourite track from Lena, a spoken word piece about finding her own Personal Power. Be inspired. DOWNLOAD: Lena Recollet - "Personal Power"

Sandy Scofield Raises Awareness Through Music

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Sandy Scofield is a Cree singer, guitarist, pianist and leader of the band Iskwew. She recently spoke with Matador Network about music as entertainment, education and political act.

The interesting and in-depth interview  covers how Sandy got into traditional music with Iskwew, her Cree culture, current issues that pertain to Indigenous peoples of Canada, and performing on the international circuit.

In Music as a political act: Cree musician Sandy Scofield Sandy is quoted:

"...when we get to go play international festivals it’s really important because, you know, one of the girls that sings with me, she went to Italy and some guy said to her, ‘Where are you from?’ and she said, ‘Well, I’m Cree Indian from Canada,’ and he was just aghast, he was saying, ‘No. They were all extinct. They don’t exist,’ and she’s going ‘You’re crazy!’ You know?

But there’s crazy ideas out there, so especially if we’re on the international stage, we’re trying to show the very best of who we are. And in Canada, half of our work is in what we call Indian Country, which is all of the country except dominant society doesn’t see us. So we perform for other native people or we perform for dominant society, and so when we perform for dominant society, it’s the same thing again. We’re trying to show the really fantastic things about our cultures, our collective culture which really concerns community, egalitarianism to a certain extent, just pride, culture, the interconnectedness of all life and that we’re interconnected with one another — things like that.”

Read the whole article at matadornetwork.com and enjoy this track Waniska by Iskwew.

STREAM: Iskwew - "Waniska"

"Waniska" by Iskwew by matadornetwork

VIDEO: Tar Sands Rap by Fort Chipewyan Youth

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A rap written and performed by Nathaniel and Morgan of Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, with beats produced and mixed by Eljay II.

This short lil' rap was written as part of the short documentary Keepers of the Water, that tells the story of the kids who live in Fort Chipwyan, Alberta, which is directly downstream from the Tar Sands - the most environmentally polluting industrial project in the world. The members of their community are dying of rare forms of cancer, the fish and moose meat have tested positive for highly toxic levels of arsenic, the water is no longer drinkable, and there is no end in sight. On their own initiative, these kids came together to protest this environmental crime.

Check out the full documentary at their website keepersofthewater.com.

#FrybreadFriday: Off the Rez Food Truck

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There's a new food truck coming to the streets of Seattle, Washington, aimed to fill a gap in the local dining scene.

Off the Rez is set to bring frybread and Indian tacos to the corners of Seattle. According to Off the Rez, Seattle’s Newest Food Truck:

Possible stops include South Lake Union, Thursdays in front of Evo, Saturday mornings on 35th Avenue in Wedgwood, and late nights on Pike Street.

Vittles like pulled pork smoked for ten hours, a bacon burger, and those frybreads and tacos, slathered in homemade jam or chicken chili verde, should prove a welcome way to soak up an evening’s intemperance.

Yum. In the meantime, they're available for catering - find Off the Rez on Facebook for more info.

10 Year Old Powerhouse Ta'Kaiya Blaney

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My name is Ta’Kaiya. I am Sliammon. I am an environmentalist and I am fighting for my culture, the ocean and the healing of our earth.

Ta'Kaiya Blaney has been singing with her musical mentor Aileen De La Cruz since her parents got her into singing lessons at the age of 4. At 10 years old she has performed at festivals, schools, conferences, film festivals and tribal journeys across BC and internationally in Bandung, Indonesia. She has been chosen as one of 20 “We Canada” Champions - an organization putting pressure on Canada to show leadership at the UN Earth Summit 2012 in Rio De Janiero. This summit will review and set goals for a future that is sustainable and promotes social justice.

In preparation for The Earth Summit 2012 taking place next summer Ta'Kaiya will be travelling across Canada, from Halifax to Victoria, visiting classrooms offering workshops about the environment and collecting the visions from our future leaders.

Already Ta'Kaiya recieves letters from students in schools where she has visited. Students wrote Ta'Kaiya letters explaining the super tanker proposal that they are up against in Bella Bella and several Gitksan classes have written Ta'Kaiya with appreciation for her music.

RPM: What do you enjoy about singing?

Ta'Kaiya Blaney: I enjoy songwriting because you get the message and what you want to say to people into that song so when you sing it you can really mean it.

RPM: What kinds of emotions are you trying to express in your songs?

TB: I wrote one song called Shallow Waters with the Enbridge Pipeline proposal that goes from the tar sands to Kitimat. It's crossing through First Nations territories. It's about a future where an oil spill happens on our traditional land and how sad it would be.  The message of that song is we really can't put this pipeline in. That song was coming from me and it's what I was passionate about so I mean it when I sing it.

RPM: Why do you think it's so important for our young people to have a voice with what's going on in the world today?

TB: I think every voice matters young or old. Even if it’s the voice of an elder or a child.  It's still a voice that’s speaking out and is passionate about the healing of the earth and the healing of the traditions. I think it's important for kids to understand this too.

RPM: Who else in your family practices singing and/or music?

TB: On my dad’s side, my cousins and my Kookpa, they do traditional singing, dancing and drumming. When I was 5 or 6 when I learned Amazing Grace. My Kookpa translated the first two verses into Sliammon.

RPM: Have you been learning some of your language?

TB: Yes, this year I have been learning Sliammon. I want to be able to go back to Sliammon and speak the language. I think it’s really amazing to be learning my traditional ways. I think it’s important because in the past our traditions were lost because of the residential school.  We don’t have as much of our culture and in the community only some of the elders and adults know it. I think it’s really good for some of the younger generations to know it so their culture doesn’t get lost forever.

RPM: What do you do to prepare for going on stage?

TB: One of the challenges of speaking is getting your message to your audience and you have only one chance when you are on stage to express what your message is. It's really important to get your message to your audience so that they can understand what you are speaking about. Its what you need to prepare for.

RPM: Is there anything you do to prepare yourself so that you are clear and strong and in a good space?

TB: I know for one thing when I get on stage I can't be angry or anything like that because my mind doesn’t work well when I am angry. I can't be tired because when you get on stage and you are trying to get someone to listen to you, you can't be in a bad mood or else they get the wrong kind of idea. I have to relax a little before I go on stage or perform anywhere.

RPM: Are there other things that bring you happiness other than singing and public speaking?

TB: Reminding myself of the message and how I am a part of stopping this pipeline and helping heal the earth. Just being reminded of that is all I need because it's really amazing for me.

RPM: What is your vision for the future?

TB: My vision would be a green economy and sustainable practices and our culture not being negotiated or for sale by the government. And world peace.

RPM: Is there anything else you would like me to include in my article?

TB: There is this thing that I always say at the end of my speech and it says: “You have a voice, be heard. You have a gift, share it”

Ta'Kaiya in actively gathering stories about how unsustainable development is effecting our land. She is encouraging people to send her letters. For more info check out her website takaiyablaney.com.

The CBC National News will be airing a profile on Ta'Kaiya this Sunday, December 11 at 10 p.m. She will also be on the second season of Down2Earth, which airs on APTN and NITV Australia, as part of their focus on young Aboriginal environmentalists. If you miss CBC news on Sunday go to Duncan McCue's CBC page next week to view the video.

Here is an older video of Ta'Kaiya singing Wonderful, Beautiful at the 2009 Tribal Journeys hosted by the Suquamish Nation. Ta'Kaiya explains "It's about don't give up, don't let anyone make you feel bad. Even if you fall, you can stand up and stand tall."

Live Indigenous Music Picks December 8-11

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From roots to hip-hop, from the dance floor to the soft seat theatre, here's this weekend's live music picks from RPM.

Krunk 4 the Kidz December 8 - The Lytics, Young Kidd, and White Rhino will be performing at the Republic Nightclub in Winnipeg, MB, raising funds and collecting unwrapped toys and canned goods for the Christmas Cheer board. More info: YOUNG KIDD & THE LYTICS LIVE @ REPUBLIC NITECLUB "KRUNK 4 THE KIDS".

Indigenous December 10 - Enjoy the roots rock of Indigenous at Trouser Mouse in Blue Springs, MO. More info: indigenousmusic.net.

"UNINTERUPTED" Jazz and Blues Review December 9 - The Dusty Roads Band joins the lineup of ten bands taking the sate at the Manitoba Hydro Gallery, Winnipeg, MB. More info: 1st Annual "Uninterupted Blues and Jazz Review".

Lakota Jonez December 10 - Not exactly a live music event, but Lakota Jonez is looking for extras to be in her newest music video. The shoot will take place at Launchpad in Albuquerque, NM. More info:  Lakota Jonez Music Video Shoot Part 3.

Electric Powwow December 10 - It's that time of the month when A Tribe Called Red puts on their one of a kind show at Babylon Nightclub, Ottawa, ON. More info: Electric Powwow.

Art Napolean December 11 -  Enjoy some new tunes and stories from Art in the wonderful Duncan Garage Showroom, Duncan, BC. More info: Art Napoleon Showroom Concert with Rockin' Cowboy Marty Jones.

January Rogers December 11 - Spoken word artist January Rogers will perform in "Mohawk Poetics" at the National Museum of the American Indian, in Washington, D.C. More info: nmai.si.edu.

RPM and Music is the Medicine

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Last night, the documentary Music is the Medicine had its Canadian broadcast debut on APTN after the film successfully toured the festival circuit for the last six weeks. Here at RPM we were thrilled to see Music is the Medicine on the little screen, and celebrated it reaching viewers across Canada.

It's a great film with a great story - a slice of the life that Mohawk blues artist Derek Miller lives.

Because RPM's beginnings are thanks to this film, we've been proudly sharing Music is the Medicine content for the past two months. Last night's broadcast brings that thread of content to a close - but don't worry, we'll still be bringing you the latest and greatest on Derek as he is always up to something good.

Interested in more? Here's what RPM has shared during this time:

Music is the Medicine: The Derek Miller Story - a brief history on the origins of RPM and our ties to the film.

RPM at imagineNATIVE 2011 - RPM was in Toronto to present the world premiere of the film at the 2011 imagineNATIVE festival.

RPM Podcast #011: "Music is the Medicine" - an entire episode of the RPM podcast dedicated to the man himself, featuring an exclusive, in depth interview with Derek.

Rod Ruel Talks Music is the Medicine - another exclusive interview, this time with the film's producer Rod Ruel on his experience making the film.

We hope you enjoyed the film as much as we do!