Northern Cree, also known as the Northern Cree Singers, is a powwow and Round Dance drum and singing group based in Maskwacis,[1] [2] Alberta, Canada.[3] Formed in 1980 (or 1982[4]) by Randy Wood, with brothers Charlie and Earl Wood of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation (Plains Indian music), members originate from the Treaty 6 area. These include Ferlin McGillvary, Steve Wood, Joel Wood, and Conan Yellowbird.
Regarded as one of the best acts in modern Native American powwow music, they have been named one of the most respected powwow groups in North America and the world. The group, or their music, has been described as remarkably unified and powerful, attention-grabbing, and energetic.
They have been nominated for six Grammy Awards[5] and two Juno Awards. In 2017, the Singers, along with founder Randy Wood and Tanya Tagaq, won a Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year – Large Ensemble for the album Going Home Star.[6]
According to Allmusic they have over twenty albums out; according to their website, they have released 37, mostly live recordings, on Canyon Records. Albums include:
They were featured in the film Grey Owl (1999).[7] [8] They are featured on the album Gathering of Nations Pow Wow 1999 (2000, Soar Records), which won a Grammy in 2001.[9] The group is featured in the song and music video "Indomitable" by DJ Shub, which was nominated for Best EDM/Dance Video in the 2017 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards and won Best Music Video in the Native American Music Awards.[10] They are featured on the CDs which accompany David Bouchard's children's books in Cree and English: Nokum Is My Teacher (2006) and The Drum Calls Softly (2008), both on Red Deer Press.[1] [2]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee/Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Grammy | Best Native American Music Album | Rockin' the Rez | [11] | |
| 2004 | Grammy | Best Native American Music Album | Still Rezin | [12] | |
| 2007 | Grammy | Best Native American Music Album | Northern Cree & Friends, Vol. 5: Long Winter Nights | [13] | |
| 2007 | Juno Award | Aboriginal Recording of the Year | Stay Red | [14] | |
| 2009 | Grammy | Best Native American Music Album | Red Rock: Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at Muckleshoot | [15] | |
| 2010 | Grammy | Best Native American Music Album | True Blue | [16] | |
| 2011 | Grammy | Best Native American Music Album | Temptations: Cree Round Dance Songs | [17] | |
| 2017 | Grammy | Best Regional Roots Music Album | It's a Cree Thing | Nominated | [18] |
| 2017 | Juno Award | Classical Album of the Year – Large Ensemble | Going Home Star | Won | |
| 2018 | Grammy | Best Regional Roots Music Album | Miyo Kekisepa, Make a Stand [Live] | Nominated | [19] |
| 2019 | Juno Award | Indigenous Music Album of the Year | Nitisanak - Brothers and Sister | Nominated | [20] |
| 2020 | Grammy | Best Regional Roots Music Album | When It's Cold - Cree Round Dance Songs | Nominated | [21] |