专辑简介

Chippewa Travellers are an Aniishinaabeg family drum group originally from Chippewas of Nawash, Cape Croker rez (Neyaashingaming)Ontario but now reside in the Southern/Central area of Ontario. The Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation occupy Neyaashingamiing Indian Reserve No. 27 on the eastern shore of the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula on Georgian Bay. The nation is named "Nawash" after Chief Nawash, who fought beside Tecumseh in the war of 1812.

The group has 15+ members and started singing as Chippewa Travellers in 1998 and before that were known as the Nawash Jrs, in the early 1990’s. Several singers were also members of the Otonabee singers back in the early 1980’s. Chippewa Travellers are primarily a Northern original style drum group that also enjoys singing contemporary and southern styles when it is appropriate. Chippewa Travellers have grown up singing within the Powwow (Helushka) society, with several teachers who have been instrumental in guiding the group in proper drum & powwow etiquette. Those teachers were Ben Bearskin Sr. (Winnebago, Nebraska), Arthur Butch Elliott (Neyaashingaming), and Art Solomon (Killarney), who have all passed on to the Spirit World.

Several singers from Chippewa Travellers are also members of the Snake Island singers out of Rama and Sarnia and the SmokeTrail singers out of Alderville.. Presently, we have singers that are based out of several communities in Central/Southern Ontario. Members of the group are: Bryden Gwiss Kiwenzie (Neyaashingaming), Mark Lavallee (Neyaashingaming), Matthew Lavallee (Neyaashingaming/Akwesasne), Tyler Lavallee (Neyaashingaming/Akwesasne), Poj Walker (Neyaashingaming), Chris Pheasant (Wikwemikong), Jared Big Canoe (Neyaashingaming/ Georgina Island), John Brown (Oneida), Nim Plain (Sarnia/Aamjiwnaang), Josh Couchie (Nippissing), Jody Shilling (Rama/Oneida), Elijah Stevens (Neyaashingaming/Moose Factory), Fabian Southwind (Sagamok), Summer Lavallee (Neyaashingaming), Teresa Big Canoe (Georgina Island/Christian Island), and the Smoke family (Alderville).

We also have other family members from other drum groups who are always there to help us out; Forrest Funmaker, Greg Bigcanoe, Kyle Bigcanoe, Alec Bigcanoe, Bruce Butler, Shawn Kaboni, Brad Kiwenzie, Meeg Snake, Kyle Boortz Lavallee, John Snake, Dwayne Manitowabi, Adrian Webb, , Dallas Sinopole, Ted Napoleon, Jonny Manitowabi, Bruce Smoke, Josh Smoke, Nolan Smoke, Lynn Smoke, Leslie Smoke, Stephanie Smoke, Rob Henry, Wayne Dale, Leland Porte, Ann marie Proulx, Aaron Lavallee and all of our friends out there who sit in from time to time.