Joanne Shenandoah
Oneida Nation, Iroquois
Introduction:
Ten years ago, at a Seminole powwow in South Florida,
I first heard Joanne Shenandoah sing, and was transfixed by the purity,
clarity and beauty of her voice and music. Since then, she has become my
favorite and most inspirational native american and folk singer.
She sings from her the heart of her people, the Iroquois, and touches the
heart and soul of her audience.
from To Those Who Dream
on Loving Ways
Narration: While walking through life
Many of us are guided by our dreams
Aguego lona nasoah skalonyaday
For so long
I dreamed a dream
Where the sweetgrass still grows
Where the wise ones still know
How to dream.
For so long
I dreamed a dream
Where the people
Spoke their tongue
Where the elders
Still teach the young
I dreamed a dream.
For so long
I dreamed a dream
Where the fighters
Lay down their guns
Where the people
Became as one
I dreamed a dream.
To those that dream
I sing this song
Above and beyond
Skalonyaday
Beyond the sky they dream.
To those that dream
Above the stars
Wherever they are
Skalonyaday
Beyond the sky they dream.
Aguego lona nasoah skalonyaday.
Aguego lona nasoah skalonyaday.
Aguego lona nasoah skalonyaday.
Joanne Shenandoah (named also Takalihwakwha - She Sings) is a
Wolf Clan member of the Oneida Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy. Her
late father, Clifford Shenandoah, was the Onondaga chief, and her mother,
Maisie, a respected Iroquois clanmother. Both encouraged her to pursue
her interests of singing and playing instruments from an early age.
While working in the computer field, Joanne rediscovered the music of
her people in 1989, and began recording her many folk/ Iroquois albums,
with numerous traditional songs, many sung in the Iroquois language. She
was invited to perform at both Clinton Inaugurals, and since then has won
many music awards including the 1997 "Native American Woman of Hope" award
and the 1998 Native American Music Best Female Artist award. She has also
created music for Northern Exposure and The Indian and the Cupboard,
and was a feature singer opening Woodstock 1994.
In May 1999, Joanne will be part of a Native American music tour
with R. Carlos Nakai and several other performers that will visit New York,
Boston, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Seattle, Philadelphia, Minneapolis,
Denver, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. See Appearance
Schedule.
Joanne and her husband, Doug George-Kanentiio, have a nonprofit
organization (Round Dance Productions) for the
preservation of Iroquois culture. They also own the largest collection
of Iroquois music recorded in the 1930s.
Joanne encourages other creative people to follow their dreams. "Examine
your own heritage. Write from your heart, and believe in yourself above
all else....Use your talent to live in harmony with Creation....As musicians,
we have the responsibility to enlighten as well as entertain. As Iroquois,
we are all taught by our elders of our duties as custodians of the earth,
to walk lightly upon her. We are also to consider the effects our personal
and communal decisions will have on the seventh generation into the future.
We are now the seventh generation, and it is our task to continue the customs
which help to keep our culture intact. Music is an integral part of that.
It heals the body, lifts the spirits, and brings minds together."
from MoonDance
Interview
Joanne Shenandoah
Joanne Shenandoah.com
Joanne's Biography
Joanne Shenandoah (old
web site)
Joanne
Shenandoah: A Singing Spirit
MoonDance
Interview (recommended!)
Joanne's Recordings and Publications
J.S. at Silver
Wave Records
J.S. at Four Winds
Trading Company
J.S. at Canyon
Records
J.S. Records
at Canyon Records
Native American Songs
Matoska
Music: Joanne Shenandoah
Amazon.com:
Joanne Shenandoah
Skywoman:
Legends of the Iroquois
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