Indigenous music rumbles in the Falls
Across both sides of the river, drums played back and forth during the opening ceremony of Rumble at the Falls on Saturday night at Oakes Garden Theatre in Niagara Falls.
Though they were tough to hear at some parts from the other side, during the swells of traditional Indigenous drums and singing, the message was clear across the Niagara River — Indigenous people are still here and still rocking today.
Following the kickoff, the music was loud and spirits high as the sounds of rock and blues filled the air of Clifton Hill, featuring Indigenous musicians including two-time Juno Award winner Derek Miller.
Miller played songs by Indigenous music icons such as Charley Patton, Mildred Bailey, Peter Lafarge, Link Wray, Jimi Hendrix, Jesse Ed Davis, Buffy Sainte-Marie and The Band’s Robbie Robertson, highlighting Indigenous contributions to the roots of blues, jazz, folk, and rock
music.
Musical performances alternated between the showing of clips from the new documentary Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World,
which tells the until now absent story of Indigenous musicians and how they shaped the history of popular music, both in North America and across the globe.
Tim Johnson, artistic producer of Celebration of Nations and producer of Rumble at the Falls, said the event indicates the continuity of Indigenous peoples and the amount of influence Indigenous artists have had around the world.
“It’s pretty profound,” said Johnson. “It sends out a very clear message that Indigenous peoples are still here and are still making significant contributions to society.”
He said he thinks Oakes Garden is one the great outdoor performance venues in the world.
“It was awesome … when you’ve got Niagara Falls as a backdrop, how do you get better than that?”
It’s especially fitting, Johnson said, that the area was shared Indigenous territory, with Indigenous people being able to cross the river and develop their cultures freely.
“There’s a bit of a message there, I think, for Indigenous people to say: ‘This is still our territory and we’re still able to send messages across.’ Music and messages, but this was done in the spirit of friendship and unity. It had a very positive objective to it.”
The event also celebrated and promoted Celebration of Nations, the first-annual gathering of Indigenous arts, culture and tradition taking place at FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in St. Catharines Sept. 8, 9 and 10.
Celebration of Nations — also meant to honour and celebrate the heritage, cultures and achievements of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples within Canada — will feature traditional and contemporary Indigenous music, dance performance and visual arts, film screenings, creative workshops and hands-on activities for all ages.
“Celebration of Nations is a new partnership and gathering of Indigenous arts, culture and tradition in downtown St. Catharines,” said Sara Palmieri, programming and marketing manager for FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.
“It is a part of a long-term vision of the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, Kakekalanicks and the city to build on the Two Row Wampum ideology that promotes walking together in parallel with respect, compassion and understanding to cultivate an inclusive community for our shared future.”
Celebration of Nations will including performances by Buffy Sainte-Marie, The Ollivanders, a speaker series and a dance party hosted by DJ Shrub, formerly of A Tribe Called Red.
Celebration of Nations will also include its own Rumble event, which will be an all-star jam with Kenny Lee Lewis of Steve Miller Band, Derek Miller and more than a dozen other Indigenous musicians.
Tickets for the first set of programming for Celebration of Nations are on sale at celebrationofnations.ca.