The groundbreaking, GRAMMY-nominated album Native North America Vol. 1 features music from the Indigenous peoples of Canada and the northern United States, recorded in the turbulent decades between 1966 to 1985. It represents the fusion of shifting global popular culture and a reawakening of Aboriginal spirituality and expression. The majority of this material has been widely unavailable for decades, hindered by lack of distribution or industry support and by limited mass media coverage.

MEGAPHONO, Voluntary In Nature and the NAC Presents Series is very proud to present the Native North America Gathering at the National Arts Centre, featuring performances by veteran Indigenous artists featured on the Grammy-nominated Native North America (Vol. 1) compilation (Light in the Attic Records), including Duke Redbird, Willie Thrasher (along with current singing partner Linda Saddleback), Willy Mitchell, Leland Bell, and Eric Landry.

Abenaki filmmaker and songwriter Alanis Obomsawin will also perform, and pay tribute to the late poet, filmmaker, and songwriting trailblazer Willie Dunn. Renowned scholar, writer, and artist Leanne Betasamosake Simpson is also on the program.

The evening will feature screenings of Willie Dunn’s 1968 short film The Ballad of Crowfoot, and an excerpt of Alanis Obomsawin’s 1977 film Amisk, co-presented with the Asinabka Festival. These films are produced and distributed by the National Film Board of Canada, to whom we are gracious for their support.

CBC Unreserved’s Rosanna Deerchild will emcee the evening, produced by Native North America series producer Kevin Howes.

Prior to showtime in the Theatre, join us for a free discussion titled "Indigenous Trailblazers: Carving Paths Through Tradition" from 3:30-5:00 pm at the NAC’s Glass Thorsteinson Staircase, hosted by Rosanna Deerchild and featuring performers Alanis Obomsawin, Duke Redbird, Leland Bell, Willy Mitchell, and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, along with MEGAPHONO performers Melody McKiver, Cody Coyote and Jeremy Dutcher.

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A reception in the NAC City Room and free concert featuring Jeremy Dutcher and Melody McKiver in the NAC Salon will follow the discussion.

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