0
items
CA$0
““Throughout the immaculately produced and played album a clear sense of space and time is evoked …this is an exceptional album” ”
“We make music about place, spirit, culture and laws, enwrapped in stunning guitar, sax & flute, expressed in the ancient Haida language. ”
"Grizzly Bear Town"
Released August 2017
Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson with Bill Henderson and Claire Lawrence.
Released July 2017
“This song - after which we named the album - is a return to my ancestral origins, my maternal great-grandmother and her birth village, Grizzly Bear Town. It is also about finding peace with the history of colonization—on both sides of that colonial experience—to nourish and sustain future generations. A meditation.
Grizzly Bear Town is another name for my ancestral village of Skedans, the village of my maternal great-grandmother, Susan Williams. T’iis Kwaanaaya, Many Ledges, is the Supernatural Being of the rock cliff behind Skedans. It was once a powerful supernatural killer whale before it became the rock cliff. In this song, Many Ledges is a metaphor for the many ascents and falls in our journey towards enlightenment.”
“It is our hope that the music will help listeners of all ages develop a greater appreciation and understanding of indigenous musical genres, bringing an endangered indigenous language, worldview and supernatural beings out of concealment and suppression to reach broader and more diverse audiences.”
“In this time of growing social, political and climate chaos, it’s widely understood that we need to work together over ethnic and cultural divides with deep love and creativity to heal ourselves and to come together to save this beautiful planet. We dedicate this music to that great adventure.”
The heart of this recording is in the expression of Haida language lyrics in a contemporary setting. The project bridges cultures, respectfully blending ancient knowledge with contemporary music.
Terri-Lynn brings her lyrics and melody together with Bill Henderson (Chilliwack) and Claire Lawrence, who join in singing and providing the instrumentation.
Recording live at the village of SGang Gwaay in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, a World Heritage Site.
"I like to think of the sound as 'cutting-edge ancient'"
-Terri-Lynn
The songs illustrate Indigenous culture, including Haida stewardship and spiritual concepts. Some of the songs contain new lyrics written about Supernatural Beings or crests in states of transformation. Terri-Lynn was fortunate to work with elders and fluent Haida speakers to translate lyrics for original compositions, from English to Haida.
Terri-Lynn, Bill and Claire in the recording studio
Respecting the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the music propels the conversation about past and future, responsibility and legacy. The songs illustrate aspects of Haida culture, including Supernatural Beings such as Cedar Sister, Landslide Lady and Canoe Song, spirituality, and indigenous laws. The album strives to highlight the endangered Haida language and music from the Northwest Coast of Canada.
The album was released on August 8 in Haida Gwaii (and iTunes) and August 27 in Vancouver.
The trio first began working together for a MusicBC fundraising concert to purchase instruments for schools in Haida Gwaii in December, 2012. They came together again in 2016 to embark on "Grizzly Bear Town".
Terri-Lynn and the band's live performances are stunning. With beautiful visuals, and sometimes joined by Haida dancers, the shows are reverent and moving. In the fall of 2018 Terri-Lynn performed at the opening of The Art Of Native America exhibit at the Met in New York City.
Grizzly Bear Town lyrics
Xuuaajii ‘Laanaas [Grizzly Bear Town]
Xuuaajii ‘Laanaas
Home of T’iis Kwaanaaya [Home of the Supernatural Being, Many-Ledges] Place of wild stillness
Whoa ho, wanagan iijiidan [Centred Place]
The ancients say
Find your place of peace Protect the land and sea, Go there and be!
Whoa ho, wanagan iijiidan
Sometimes I want to go back in time!
And sit with nanaay 7aawaay [great-grandmother] in xuuaajii ‘laanas
Oh, but colonization was a hard time!
Decimation, segregation, suppression
Vestiges remain today
Those in sGaana tllGaay [Spirit-Land] whisper
Anger is victim, in disguise
It eats at your soul like cancer
Instead, be
Warriors of light, peace and forgiveness
Xuuaajii ‘Laanaas, Xuuaajii ‘Laanaas
Home of T’iis Kwaanaaya
Place of wild stillness
Whoa ho, wanagan iijiidan
Warriors of Light