The band from left to right: Camille Henderson, Jodi Proznik, Claire Lawrence, Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson, Bill Henderson, Saffron Henderson. Photo by Farah Nosh

Haida Solstice album

“Haida Solstice” celebrates and honours the sacredness of Haida music expressed during the shortest days of the year. It also celebrates the Christmas and Supernatural themed music in the Haida language. Join us to uplift and unite our spirits as we collectively move toward the light.

“The concept of a Christmas album in the Haida language was first suggested to me by Elders in 2017 when I released my last album. It is their enthusiasm and initiative that underscored the importance of their inclusion in holiday festivities. I want to share their vision with others and communities, and provide a new context to holiday celebrations though Indigenous voices.” - Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson

In the winter of 2023 the Haida Solstice album was completed as a gift for the Haida Elders. We released 250 limited copies of CD’s available for sale at the Haida Gwaii concerts.

Stay tuned for the main album, which will be released in the fall of 2024!

BIOgraphies

Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson was born and raised in Haida Gwaii off the west coast of Canada, Terri-Lynn has been a promoter of Haida music since the age of 13 and has performed throughout the world. For her work, which has spanned 40 years and has helped bring renewal to Haida songs, she received a ‘Keeper of Traditions’ Canadian Aboriginal Music Award in 2008. Her first traditional album: ‘Lalaxaaygans: Beautiful Sound’, and her second album, ‘New Journeys’ received multiple awards and nominations, including winning Best Female Traditional/Cultural Roots at the 2009 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards (CAMA), a ‘Best Female Artist’ at the 2011 CAMA, and was cited as one of the top 10 Most Influential Indigenous Albums of 2011 by RPM Indigenous Music Culture. In 2012, ‘Have a Light Heart on Your New Journey’ reached No 2 on the National Aboriginal Music Countdown, and was on this chart for almost 40 weeks. Terri-Lynn is also a well-known lawyer representing the Haida Nation in the area of aboriginal-environmental law, is the Principal lawyer at White Raven Law Corporation, an author and legal scholar.

Bill Henderson is a singer/songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist with the legendary Canadian rock band Chilliwack which produced such hits as "Lonesome Mary", "California Girl", and "My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)". He has also produced numerous recordings, winning a Juno Award for "Producer of the Year" and a Genie Award for best original song in a movie. He was the sound engineer for the Haida Gwaii Singers contemporary box set and was a musical director for the Canadian edition of Sesame Street. Bill has also advocated for musicians and songwriters on the industry side, as Director of the Canadian Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), and as Director and President of the Songwriters Association of Canada (SAC) and of SOCAN. Bill is part of the folk music supergroup “UHF.” In 2015 Bill was honoured with an Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest civilian honours. In 2019, Chilliwack was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Claire Lawrence is a Canadian musician who was a founding member of the Canadian band The Collectors and Chilliwack. A talented multi-instrumentalist, he plays saxophone, flutes and keyboards. He left Chilliwack in 1971 to produce a number of prominent Canadian artists and groups including Susan Jacks, Valdy, Shari Ulrich, Roy Forbes, UHF and Connie Kaldor. In 1977 he formed the “Hometown Band” which was awarded the Juno for best new group in 1978. He has scored music for television including Northwood, Cold Squad and the long running Canadian TV series, The Beachcombers. He produced Jazz Beat for CBC Radio, along with jazz recordings for artists including Cam Ryga and Rene Rosnes, Laila Biali and Don Thompson, the latter winning a Juno for best jazz album.

Jodi Proznick is a two-time Juno-nominated bassist, composer, producer and educator who has earned a reputation as one of Canada’s finest jazz artists. She has won numerous National Jazz Awards, including Bassist of the Year in ’08 and ’09. Her group, the Jodi Proznick Quartet, was awarded the Acoustic Group of the Year and Album of the Year in ‘08 and the Galaxie Rising Star at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival in ‘04. Most recently, Jodi was awarded the Jazz Artist of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards. Jodi has performed with many of Canada’s top musicians, including P.J. Perry, Don Thompson, Kirk MacDonald, Guido Basso, Oliver Gannon, Dee Daniels, Phil Dwyer, Mark Fewer and Laila Biali as well as international jazz legends such as David 'Fathead' Newman, Sheila Jordan, George Coleman and Ed Thigpen. In addition to recording her own Juno-nominated CD as a leader, Jodi has been featured on over 40 recordings as a side player.

Saffron Henderson is a narrator, voice actress, and singer with a rock’n’roll, musical theater, stage, film, tv and voiceover background. She is the lead singer for Saffron Henderson and the Troublemakers, and has lead numerous bands, TV, film and animation themes, corporate and special events including the Commonwealth Games, Invictus Games, and the Calgary Stampede. She has contributed background vocals for David Foster, Lionel Ritchie, Ray Charles, Olivia Newton John, Chilliwack, Jann Arden, 54-40, Tom Cochrane, Paul Rogers, Mariana’s Trench, Rita MacNeil, Annette Ducharme, The Irish Rovers, Shari Ulrich, Allan Dobb, Raffi, Paul Rodgers (Bad Company), Richie Sambora, The Wild, Cole Haan.

Camille Henderson is most well known for her many years of touring as Sarah McLachlan’s back-up singer. As a teacher, she’s most well known for her star-studded roster of students. In any given week, Camille works with Oscar, Emmy and Juno award winning performers prepping for on-camera appearances, arena tours and studio recording. By the age of 10, she was a working actor in film, TV and on stage, a session singer for multinational corporations and a signed recording artist with RCA Records. While in her teens, she toured as a member of the A&M recording group West End Girls, charting No. 1 on The Record’s top 40 chart, earning a Juno nomination and winning a Western Canadian Music award. Following this, Camille joined Sarah McLachlan’s band, touring the world with appearances on the Grammy’s, Junos, Saturday Night Live and a string of late night talk shows. Camille continues to hone her craft, remaining on call as a vocalist for recording sessions with world renowned producers.