To Nancy Nash, Mayoral Candidate:
Dear Ms. Nash,
In preparing to vote, in the city of Moose Jaw, I perused the cities on-line mayoral platforms, to find that, we have a candidate, once considered for a Best Music of Aboriginal Canada Recording, for the 1994 Juno Awards! Immediately, I assume this person, is Aboriginal and therefore, someone whom I might endorse whole heartedly! However, upon further reading wikipedia.ca (Nancy Nash) including the North Battleford Optimist, I then deduce your NOT of Aboriginal ancestry!
As we move along, in the reconciliation continuum, one must be aware of how cultural appropriation operates! On the Moose Jaw, 2020-election platform it states, that you were nominated for a Juno, in 1994 for best music of Aboriginal Canada Recording. This meant you accepted a nomination specifically, addressed for Aboriginal people! Shame on the Junos, for not doing its due diligence! Because, in its inaugural award, honoring Aboriginal musicians, a non-Aboriginal person, who recorded a prominent Indigenous leader’s work, had been nominated. It was the late Leonard George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, son of Chief Dan George who disputed this nomination and deemed it cultural appropriation. Also, Leonard subsequently, denied being unaware of your claim of being traditionally adopted into his family.
As a Cree woman living in Moswa-Tapiskan (Moose Jaw), I take offence you have not clarified your status. After, all these years, you appear unapologetic or unaware of your own cultural appropriation; to ‘use’ and ‘take’ aspects of the culture, just as the late Leonard George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, took offence on behalf of his family. Ms. Nash in your own right, are a proud supporter of Indigenous issues and are a accomplished musician, for which, I applaud your commitment. One thing is true, you are a Treaty Person, a proud beneficiary of the numbered Treaty Four; just as, we all are within the city of Moose Jaw. The reason I write this letter, is to ask you, Nancy Nash to state on your platform, that you are not Aboriginal. So, as not to mislead, other voters, such as myself. I wish all three candidates, the best in their campaign.
Sincerely,
Barb Frazer Cultural Researcher Moose Jaw, SK
Letter to the Editor,
Response to B. Frazer:
Thank you so much for your concerns regarding the JUNO controversy that erupted in 1994 when National news media decided to print headlines about me without fact checking and slandered me, spinning false propaganda that overnight destroyed my music career and ability to make a living. This false narrative continues in Wikipedia which also states I've worked with people I've never met, among other lies. If the same media revisits this, I will be able to hold them liable and lay claim to those damages, as today there are lawyers who will represent me unlike twenty-five years ago. A Public Notice and disclosure was sent to each paper, radio station and Native council during 1994-95 outlining the entire story and truth of the matter. I am grateful to the Moose Jaw Express for printing my side of the story after twenty-five years.
My recording RED SKY RISING was nominated for a JUNO award in the aboriginal category. I was the first woman to be nominated in this new category. One of the songs The Prayer Song was credited to the Chief Dan George Foundation. My adoptive brother Leonard George told me Dan George was the leader of his people and keeper of the Ts'leil Watuth songs and traditions. Leonard always introduced the song as hundreds, maybe thousands of years old, and stated this again the same night he adopted me into his family which was broadcast live JR country radio in Vancouver where we sang The Prayer Song together. We had previously recorded the song with Paul Janz in 1987 of which Leonard offered us each a 'cut' to which we refused.
My adoptive brother was worried I might disclose him. His prior actions involved $65,000 in disappearing funds from the Vancouver Indian Centre of which he was treasurer and my Haida mother Dr. Minnie Croft was President. A $400,000 grant given to the Chief Dan George Foundation set up to assist young artists was personally withdrawn by Leonard. Ron Peters who had been on the Chief Dan George Foundation board told me no artists received any money and the Foundation was dissolved.
Although there were lots of threats in the papers, no legal claims were brought against me and no documents ever produced to prove the song I recorded was now Dan George's personal prayer song. I was also personally threatened on the phone by Peter Steinmetz who worked for the JUNO committee and my son's life was threatened by a mysterious phone call. This was before cellphones & texting...Media also condescended my Haida Raven Clan mother, Dr. Minnie Croft, because she defended me. I could not find legal council at the time. They claimed, 'conflicts of interest.'
Finally, after much digging, I met with the true traditional keeper of songs, stories and all of the Ts'leil Watuth peoples traditions. Grand Chief Slaholt aka John L. George, youngest brother of the George family of which actor Dan George was also. With a lawyer, witnesses and his wife Dolly present, I played the song I'd recorded on Red Sky Rising. Grand Chief Slaholt had never heard it before and stated it wasn't one of his people's or late brother Dan's, or any of his siblings or anyone in the Ts'leil Watuth Nation. He told us many other truths which were recorded and witnessed, including never being allowed to serve his people, acts of hostility and abuse towards his family by elected council and family. This benevolent Chief and his amazing legacy is non-existent in history and written records. One day I hope to write the full account of Grand Chief Slaholt and his wife, Dolly.
Since then, many tribes have claimed the song I recorded as theirs. At Leonard Cohen's house in Los Angeles, Tibetan teacher to the Delai Lama, Rimpoche Kusim Lingpa Ngak Chang stated to me this song was from the stars given to the shepherds in the Tibetan hills. He said it was a gift sent to all people of the world to invoke healing power. In Turtle Island it was first 'dreamed' by the Cherokee. Many cultures communicate through dreams including the Haida and Cherokee. The Prayer Song I recorded is registered in the Public Domain and can be heard on YOUTUBE: The Prayer Song, Sazacha Red Sky, Nancy Nash.
In the late 90's my families racial mixes came to light including German/Jew, English, Dutch, French, African (not sure what tribe) and Spanish. My blood uncle Don Henning's Haida carvings are on display in Washington state. My Haida mother, Dr. Minnie Croft is the Raven Clan mother for her people. She told me Haida tradition acknowledges a person as a full Haida even if they possess one drop of Haida blood. I am recognized by the Haida Nation as being full Haida because of my adoption by Judla Hagens, Raven Clan mother Dr. Minnie Croft.
Today no one is judged by what they look like: skin tone, hair or eye colour. Each person is protected under the Charter of Rights in Canada. I continue to support conciliation of all Native Indian peoples and the disclosure of the genocide committed against them by government, church, crown and corporations. All my relations.
-- Nancy Nash, Sazacha Sk'tghaxeeahw (Red Sky)
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
