Powwow music working its way into mainstream

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Things have been moving swiftly at Saskatoon's Sweet Grass Records since one of their recording groups, the Stoney Park Singers, was nominated for a Juno last year in the Best Music of Aboriginal Canada category.

Known in the recording industry for consistently producing the best in traditional powwow and round dance music, Sweet Grass owners insist on high standards and a quality product in traditional music.

"There is no confusion as to what to record because we know our focus and we are always careful not to violate cultural spirituality," said Ted Whitecalf.

Until recently, albums produced by Sweet Grass were only available by direct mail or at powwows. Since 1995, however, an arrangement with EMI provides worldwide distribution for the Sweet Grass label.

In its three years of operation, Sweet Grass Records has recorded 40 different groups including two Juno nominees.

This spring four new recordings are to be released. They feature White Ridge, Shadow Prey, High Noon and will include a compilation of the worlds leading round dance songs.

This year, the Sweet Grass label featured the Juno nominated Red Bull Singers.

Edmund Bull founded the Red Bull Singers in 1987 and they have become one of the finest powwow groups on the continent.

The group's members are part of an extended family from Saskatchewn. According to Bull his song "Dancing Around The World" is an original round dance song, composed by him during a trip to Russia in 1989.

They were performing at the opening of the Goodwill Games at the time. With the Foxwood Dance Group his ensemble also toured Finland, Poland and Sweden.

"Dancing Around The World" came out of this tour as a result of seeing the many different cultures that appreciated Aboriginal dance and song, Bull said.

The Red Bull Singers attend powwows all over North America and have won many honors and awards for their music. In 1995 they won the World Hand Drumming award in Hartford, Connecticut. They have cut 20 albums.