{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Arlette Alcock | image = ArletteAlcock.jpg | caption = Arlette Alcock Performing at the Nighthawk Aboriginal Arts and Music Festival in 2010 | birth_name = Arlette Christine Aida Brabant | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1958|10|08}} | birth_place = Trail, B.C., Canada | genre = Folk, Country | instrument = Vocals, guitar | occupation = Singer-songwriter | years_active = 1997–present | website = {{URL|www.arlettemusic.com/}} }}
'''Arlette Alcock''' (born '''Arlette Christine Aida Brabant''', 8 October 1958) is a Métis-Canadian folk musician, songwriter and social activist. Arlette is best known for performing her outspoken songs which detail the past and current challenges facing Métis and Indigenous people.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://manachihtowin.weebly.com/aboriginal-leaders-and-role-models.html|title=Aboriginal Leaders and Role Models|website=manachihtowin}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=http://whatsupyukon.com/Yukon-Arts-Entertainment/music/truths-from-the-earth/#sthash.oHdzCoD8.xlLbnvNw.dpbs|title=Truths from the Earth|date=3 February 2011|publisher=}}</ref> Since 1997 she has released two full-length albums and two EPs of original music under the mononym Arlette. Her music has received extensive Aboriginal radio airplay in Canada and the United States.<ref name="thefreelibrary.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Aboriginal+radio+most+active+list.-a0210607385|title=Aboriginal radio most active list. – Free Online Library|website=www.thefreelibrary.com}}</ref> Arlette has been nominated for a variety of Aboriginal music awards in North America and won the Songwriter of the Year award at the Native-E Music Awards in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rpm.fm/artist/arlette-alcock/|title=Arlette Alcock – RPM.fm|website=rpm.fm|access-date=26 July 2017|archive-date=13 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613060600/https://rpm.fm/artist/arlette-alcock/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Her songs Midnight Mass Graves (2021) and Kimowan (2023) both achieved positions within the top 20 on the Indigenous Music Countdown.<ref>https://www.indigenousmusiccountdown.com/page/77 indigenous music countdown December 16th – December 22nd, 2023</ref><ref> indigenous music countdown October 16th – October 22nd, 2021 https://www.indigenousmusiccountdown.com/page/187/</ref>
== Career ==
Arlette began writing poetry and playing guitar when she was a teenager, building a reputation as a songwriter. Her writing focuses on her Indigenous heritage, spirituality, racism and residential school abuse.<ref name="functionfour.ca">{{cite web|url=http://ima.functionfour.ca/artist/arlette|title=Indigenous Music Awards|website=ima.functionfour.ca|access-date=26 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824093807/http://ima.functionfour.ca/artist/arlette|archive-date=24 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=http://nationtalk.ca/story/award-winning-songwriter-and-cupe-member-plays-for-awg|title=Award-winning songwriter—and CUPE member—plays for AWG|publisher=}}</ref>
Her debut album ''Tribe of One'' was released in 1997. Her second album, ''Wolfgirl'' was produced by Grammy Award Nominee Gaye Delorme <ref>{{cite web|url=https://theprovince.com/entertainment/music/arlette-wolfgirl-independent|title=ARLETTE: Wolfgirl (Independent)|date=2 October 2010|publisher=}}</ref> and released in 2007. Both albums received airplay on Aboriginal Radio stations in Canada and the United States, as well as the CBC National Radio in Canada. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indigenousmusicawards.com/nominees/view,profile/44|title=Nominees and Winners – Indigenous Music Awards|first=Visual|last=Lizard|website=www.indigenousmusicawards.com}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://artists.cbcmusic.ca/artist/57353|title=CBC Music – Artists|first=CBC|last=Music|website=artists.cbcmusic.ca|access-date=26 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824093956/http://artists.cbcmusic.ca/artist/57353|archive-date=24 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="thefreelibrary.com"/> <ref>{{cite web|url=http://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/28/16277.html|title=Métis women singers, songwriters, storytellers of Métis struggles and perseverance – Aboriginal CKCU – 2014-03-23|website=CKCU}}</ref>
In 2008 Arlette won the Songwriter of the Year award at the Native-E Music Awards, <ref>{{cite web|url=http://whatsupyukon.com/Yukon-Arts-Entertainment/music/truths-from-the-earth/#sthash.oHdzCoD8.oJjqEvf9.dpbs|title=Truths from the Earth|date=3 February 2011|publisher=}}</ref><ref name="functionfour.ca"/> in Albuquerque, New Mexico.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HkuaQRR23K4C&pg=PA250|title=Encyclopedia of Native American Music of North America|first1=Elaine|last1=Keillor|first2=Tim|last2=Archambault|first3=John M. H.|last3=Kelly|date=27 March 2013|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780313055065|via=Google Books}}</ref> She was nominated for Best Folk Recording at the Native American Music Awards the same year,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nativevillage.org/Messages%20from%20the%20People/NAMMYS%20and%20Aboriginal%20Music%20Awards/2008%20Native%20American%20Music%20Awards.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510171805/http://nativevillage.org/Messages%20from%20the%20People/NAMMYS%20and%20Aboriginal%20Music%20Awards/2008%20Native%20American%20Music%20Awards.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=10 May 2012|title=2008 Native American Music Awards & A }}</ref> and her single "Her Suitcase" was an Honor Award Finalist for acoustic folk single in the 2008 Great American Song Contest.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.greatamericansong.com/honorary-2008.php|title=FINALISTS 2008 – Great American Song Contest|website=www.greatamericansong.com}}</ref>
Arlette has been featured on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network show ''Beyond Words'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/beyond-words/episodes/341983/|title=Beyond Words|website=TVGuide.com}}</ref> is a member of the National Aboriginal Recording Industry Association<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.esp-sostenible.org/members/|title=MEMBERSHIP – NARIA|website=www.esp-sostenible.org|access-date=26 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824133351/http://www.esp-sostenible.org/members/|archive-date=24 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> and has collaborated with many other notable Métis Canadian musicians including Cheryl l'Hirondelle,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstvisionart.com/archer/cheryl.html|title=Cheryl L'Hirondelle|first=Archer|last=Pechawis.|website=www.firstvisionart.com}}</ref><ref>[http://www.pavedarts.ca/galleries/21/21_artist_bio.pdf 21 Exhibition - Biographies] pavedarts.ca</ref> Sandy Scofield,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indigenousmusic.ca/news/read,article/2938/the-aboriginal-music-lab-in-vancouver|title=The Aboriginal Music Lab in Vancouver|first=Manitoba|last=Music|date=10 June 2008 |publisher=}}</ref> and Janet Panic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://livevan.com/index.php?htaccess_qs=show/239430/view| title=Women of the Coast|website=livevan.com}}</ref> She has performed at many Aboriginal and Métis events, including the Night Hawk Aboriginal Music Festival, International Aboriginal Day and the Missing Women's March in Vancouver; and at National Aboriginal Day, Honouring Our Sisters and the Métis Rendezvouse in Kelowna.<ref>https://www.bccic.ca/event/honouring-our-sisters/ honouring-our-sisters</ref><ref>https://www.indigenousmusic.ca/news/read,article/8265/indigenous-music-west-launches-askiy-export-residency indigenous music news</ref>
In 2021 Arlette released a 5 song EP of new material, produced by Janet Panic. The title track ′Midnight Mass Graves′reached the #15 position on the Indigenous Music Countdown.<ref> indigenous music countdown October 16th – October 22nd, 2021 https://www.indigenousmusiccountdown.com/page/187/</ref>
In 2022 Arlette released a second 5 song EP titled 'Birch Lake'. The single from this EP, 'Kimowan', remained within the top 40 on the Indigenous Music Countdown for 11 consecutive weeks climbing to the #10 position in December of 2023.<ref>https://www.indigenousmusiccountdown.com/page/77 indigenous music countdown December 16th – December 22nd, 2023</ref>
== Personal life ==
Arlette Alcock was born in Trail, British Columbia on 8 October 1958 to Roseline Chartrand, of the Pine Creek First Nation of Manitoba and Raymond Adam Brabant, of the Little Black Bear First Nation of Saskatchewan. Arlette is a Métis descendant of Pine Creek Saulteaux Anishinaabe, and Irish lineage on her mother's side, together with Little Black Bear Cree and French ancestry on her father's side. Her parents were both Canadian residential school alumni.<ref name="functionfour.ca"/><ref name="auto"/>
In addition to her career as a musician, Arlette has also worked as a library technician for the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs,<ref>[https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/ubcic/pages/1440/attachments/original/1484861488/24_ubcic_ourfuture.pdf?1484861488 Options for the Exercise of Indigenous Peoples’ Authority in Child Welfare] Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs</ref> and the First Nations University of Canada in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
Arlette is a vocal advocate for many social justice issues in Canada <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reverbnation.com/show/3171565|title=Show at CUPE BC's Aboriginal Gathering and Human Rights Conference|last=eMinor|website=ReverbNation}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2010/10/01/truth-and-reconciliation-commission-update-bamoseda-report/|title=Truth and Reconciliation Commission update: Bamoseda report – 680 NEWS|date=1 October 2010|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://vancouver.ca/|title=IT Application|publisher=}}</ref> including missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nathaliebertin.blogspot.ca/2012/|title=Nathalie Bertin|website=nathaliebertin.blogspot.ca|access-date=26 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828063002/http://nathaliebertin.blogspot.ca/2012/|archive-date=28 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> the protection of women's reproductive rights<ref>[http://www.arcc-cdac.ca/action/notable-canadian-women-oppose-motion312.pdf Notable Canadian women] arcc-cdac.ca</ref> and people living with addictions in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, where her mother died in 1988. Her mother's story is referenced in the lyrics of her song 'Roseline'.<ref>https://soundcloud.com/arlette-alcock/roseline</ref>
==Discography== {| class="wikitable" |- !Year !Album |- |1997 |''Tribe of one'' |- |2007 |''Wolfgirl'' |}
{| class="wikitable" |- !Year !EP |- |2021 |''Midnight Mass Graves'' |- |2022 |''Birch Lake'' |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *[https://www.arlettemusic.com/ www.arlettemusic.com] {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alcock, Arlette}} Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:Métis musicians Category:Canadian women singer-songwriters Category:Canadian singer-songwriters Category:Canadian folk guitarists Category:Canadian women folk guitarists Category:People from Trail, British Columbia Category:Canadian women activists Category:Métis activists Category:First Nations activists