“Songs of the Tłı̨chǫ Drum Dance” is a recording of a special celebration of the New Year by accomplished northern drummers. This is a traditional time of excitement and happiness when people from all the Tłı̨chǫ communities come together in unity and togetherness. This recording showcases the drum songs of musicians from Behchokǫ̀, Gamètı̀, Wekweètı̀ and Whatı̀ during the 1982 New Year’s Eve Celebration in Behchokǫ̀, NT. The drummers include: Johnny Nitsiza, Jimmy Nitsiza, Philip Nitsiza, William Nitsiza, Joe Champlain, Menton Mantla and Louis Wedawin from Whatı̀; Alexis Arrowmaker and Johnny Eyakfwo from Wekweètı̀; Michel Rabesca, Paul Rabesca, Edward Lafferty, Morris Lafferty and Nick Black from Behchokǫ̀; and Germaine Eyakfwo and Harry Simpson from Gamètı̀.
Invited to the community celebration by Chief Joe Migwi, Ronald Wright originally recorded the music on behalf of the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. The songs have been selected by Michel Rabesca and produced and engineered by Norm Glowach from these original recordings preserved by the Archives since 1984.
The History
In 1982, Robert Janes, Director of the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, contracted Ronald Wright to make recordings of Dene music in a variety of communities. The Dene Music Project, as this first effort was known, had two purposes. The first aim was to see that an account of Dene music was made and, thus, ensure that the music could then be preserved. The second goal was to produce a published record of the music. The album title was to be "Dene Drum Dance Songs: And Other Traditional Music of the NWT." Four locations were chosen, including Fort Smith, Délı̨ne, Tulita and Behchokǫ̀.
The Behchokǫ̀ sessions occurred when Grand Chief Joe Migwi invited Ronald Wright to travel to the community and record the traditional New Year’s celebration. However, the recordings of this music remained untouched in the archives until 2011 when the PWNHC established a committee of people from CBC, the Dene Nation and the Tłı̨chǫ Government to work together to bring “Songs of the Tłı̨chǫ Drum Dance” to a new audience. With the release of this CD the goal to produce a published record of this music has been finally realized.
The songs in this collection have been selected by Michel Rabesca and produced
and engineered by Norm Glowach.
The NWT Archives is proud to have partnered with the Tłı̨chǫ Government, the
Dene Nation and CBC North in delivering this music back to the people. These are
the songs of our Elders, the roots of the traditional music we hear in the Northwest
Territories every day. These songs, saved by the NWT Archives since 1984, are now
widely available to inspire our northern musicians for generations to come.