CAROL POWDER AND CIKWES

Language: Nêhiyawêwin

Chubby Cree is a First Nations, Indigenous hand drum group that has taken the internet by storm. Steeped in traditional Cree music and culture, Carol Powder has taught all of her children and grandchildren, and was herself trained at a young age by her then 99 year old grandfather. "In the future, you're going to be a singer," she recalled him saying, "You're going to help bring these women back to the drum because that's where they belong.”

For the past five years the group have been playing non-stop around their hometown of Edmonton, at both traditional powwow events and as a go-to artist at events in support of women’s rights, the environment and the marginalized of society. Channeling the authentic spirit of Cree music and its healing power to unite people, the group's powerful performances have often brought audience members to tears.

Cikwes is a Nehiyaw Soul Singer and Songwriter from Bigstone Cree Nation. Her musical background is rooted in Woodland Cree traditions, with creative influences ranging from chanting, overtone singing, jazz, soul, gospel, rhythm and blues and reggae. Cikwes is a fluent Nehiyaw (Cree) speaker and singer songwriter. She sings in her mother tongue and in English. Her first album ISKO which means ‘Woman’ in the Cree language was nominated for the 2019 Indigenous Music Awards for Best Folk Album of the Year. Her songs are a testament of a woman’s beauty, resilience and resurgence. 

Chubby Cree nehiyaw, iyiniw mistikwaskihk onikamow ehâhkameyimocik enikamocik ôta internet.  kwayask epimitisahahkik nehiyaw kitohcikewin ekwa isihtwâwin, Carol Powder kîkiskinohamawew kahkiyaw otawâsimisa ekwa osisima, ekwa wiya ekîkiskinohamât ehoskâyawit ekiskinoham̂akot ekospî ehitahtopiponeyit kekâc kekâ-mitâtahtomitanaw omosôma .  “ôte nîkânihk, kiwîhitakon onikamowiyiniw,” ekîhitikot itwew.  “kiwîkiskinohtahâwak iskwewak kâwekanikamocik ta-pakamahwâcik mistikwaskihkwa ayisk ekote aniki takîhapicik.

nâway niyânan askiya ekonik ôki ekîpapaminikamostamâkecik ita ehohcîcik amiskwacîwâskahikanihk, nanapô kayâs ohci isitwânihk pwâtisimowinihk ekwa epâmimetawestamâket ita kasihtoskawihcik iskwewak kwayask kapaminihcik, kâkî-pehohpikicik ekwa aniki pîtos asime kesipaminihcik.  kwayask kâsôhki-mamisihtahkik nehiyaw nikamowina ita kananâtawihikot ekwa kâwe tamiyowîcetocik ayisiyiniwa, ekonik mâmawi takahkinikamowak enanâtawiskawâcik ayisiyiniwa isko ahpô emâtoyit.

Cikwes nehiyaw ahcâhk onikamow ekwa nikamowasinahikew ohci mikisiw tipahaskan. okitohcikewin pehcinâway ekîpimitisahahk Woodland nehiyaw isitwâwina, piko kîkway enapwastât nikamowayasihk, ka paskastehamihk kitohcikan, jazz, ahcâhk, ayamihâwinikamowin, rhythm ekwa blues, ekwa reggae. Cikwes nihtânehiyawew (Cree) nehiyawew ekwa onikamowinasinahikew. nehiyaw nikamow ekwa môniyâwatwâmow. nistam onikamowin ISKO ehitwemakanihk “Woman’ nehiyawewinihk ekînawasônikâtehk anita 2019 iyiniw kitohcikewin otahowewin ohci mâwaci mâmiywâsik ayisiyiniwak ohci ewako askiy. onikamowina anihi tâpwe iskwewak katawasisiwin, kanihtamînawihk ekwa kâwe kapimâcihtâhk

Photos courtesy of Kristy Lynn and Mark J Chalifoux