‘Canoe Song | Cycle of the Supernatural Beings’ is from the ‘Grizzly Bear Town’ album released 9-August-2017, www.ravencallingproductions.ca

Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson (vocals) with Bill Henderson (guitar) and Claire Lawrence (saxophone).

This song is an ancient song that survived with the Kwakwakawa'kw Nation, where it was used as a War Cycle Song. According to William Wasden Jr., it was sung upon returning from war when warriors sang about the Supernatural Beings they had personified during battle. We've honoured the history of this song with the historic canoe footage recorded by Edward S. Curtis, courtesy of Milestone Films, NJ, www.milestone.film

After it was returned to the Haida Nation, the Haida Nation used it as a canoe song and, sometimes as a peaceful song marking the end of one's life and the journey into the Spirit World. We acknowledge this recent history of the song with footage from 'I called her Loo Taas", courtesy of the Bill Reid Foundation.

Terri-Lynn has reinterpreted the song as a 'Cycle of the Supernatural Beings', in recognition of the belief that Supernatural Beings predated and witnessed the human history before they became the Land and Sea. Her spoken word lyrics state that the Supernatural Beings stand up and tell us when it is time to strengthen our minds to do the work needed to protect the Land and Sea. These lyrics are also the preface to her book "Out of Concealment: Female Supernatural Beings of Haida Gwaii".

We were honoured and fortunate to record this song live, in the verdant and primordial ravine near the village of SGang Gwaay, Anthony Island, Haida Gwaii.

Spoken Word Lyrics:
We watched the birth of the land
The origins of humanity
Glaciers and floods
We cleansed the earth
We became the land and sea
Now, we stand up and say
Guu dang.ngaay tlaats’iiga [Make your mind strong, Skidegate dialect, courtesy of SHIP]
Guu danGanhl tlaats ga dii [Make your mind strong, Massett dialect, courtesy of Robert Davidson]
Guudangáang hl tláats’gaadaa [Make your mind strong, Alaska dialect, courtesy of Ben Young]
Make. Your. Mind. Strong!
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Available on iTunes | [ Ссылка ]
Spotify | [ Ссылка ]
CD available | [ Ссылка ]

To learn more about Haida Supernatural Beings, see the book ‘Out of Concealment,’ published by Heritage House Publishing, [ Ссылка ]

Executive Producer | Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson
Video Producer | Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson, Bill Henderson, Claire Lawrence
Cinematographers | Nang K’uulas Patrick Shannon and Julia Graff
Editor | Julia Graff
VideoFx (Rotoscoping) | Studio 26 Artist Services
Boss Lady Extraordinaire | May Henderson
Communications | Suzanne Little and Sharon Bloedorn, Slinctank

Filmed on location in the village of sGang Gwaay, Gwaii Haanas Heritage Site and the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, Haida Gwaii, with the permission of the Archipelago Management Board, Parks Canada Agency, and with the assistance of the Haida Gwaii Watchmen.

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