Haida Gwaii Singers Society
Logo and Artwork created by Robert Davidson
““Haida Gwaii Singers represent the last generation to learn directly from Elders known as ‘Holders of the Songs’. These records will not only connect Haida children with the rich legacy of Haida songs; they will also help to connect Haida people with the people of B.C. and the rest of the world.””
Terri-Lynn founded the Haida Gwaii Singers Society with five other veteran Haida singers including her husband, artist Robert Davidson in 2000. As executive producer, fundraiser, project coordinator, writer and researcher for the project she was instrumental in producing archival and new recordings of over 450 traditional Haida songs.
The two CD collections, “Songs of Haida Gwaii: Haida Gwaii Singers Anthology” (contemporary recordings) and “Songs of Haida Gwaii: Archival Anthology” are now part of museum and school collections and preserve songs that might otherwise have been lost.
One of the CD’s from the Contemporary box set featuring Terri-Lynn as a solo singer: Lalaxaaygans: Beautiful Sound, received the “Best Female Traditional / Cultural Roots” award at the 2009 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards (CAMA).
The Society’s goals are to educate Haida people and the general public about, and in the rich musical traditions of the Haida Nation. The Society also seeks to reinvigorate Haida songs and protocol, perpetuating the continued use and existence of traditional and contemporary songs.
The Society released three monumental box sets in 2008 and 2009. To learn more about these box sets and to purchase them, visit the Haida Gwaii Singers website.
