# Northern Cree > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Northern_Cree > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Northern_Cree.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Cree > Source revision: 1354365956 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Infobox musical artist | name = | image = | image_size = | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | alias = | origin = [Maskwacis](/source/Maskwacis), [Alberta](/source/Alberta), [Canada](/source/Canada) | genre = [Powwow](/source/Powwow) | years_active = 1982–present | label = | associated_acts = | website = | current_members = | past_members = | module = | module2 = | module3 = }} '''Northern Cree''', also known as the '''Northern Cree Singers''', is a [powwow](/source/powwow) and [Round Dance](/source/Round_Dance) drum and singing group based in [Maskwacis](/source/Maskwacis), [Alberta](/source/Alberta), Canada.{{cite book|last=Bouchard|first=David|author-link=David Bouchard|title=Nokum Is My Teacher|date=2006|location=Calgary|publisher=Red Deer Press|isbn=9780889953673|oclc=71344719}}{{cite book|last=Bouchard|first=David|title=The Drum Calls Softly|date=2008|location=Calgary|publisher=Red Deer Press|isbn=9780889954212|oclc=198523387}}{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/grammy-nominations-1.3882253|last=Wong|first=Jessica|title=Beyoncé, Drake, Adele and Justin Bieber to vie for Grammy Awards|publisher=[CBC](/source/Canadian_Broadcasting_Corporation)|date=6 December 2016|access-date=2016-12-07}} Formed in 1982 by Randy Wood, with brothers Charlie and Earl Wood of the [Saddle Lake Cree Nation](/source/Saddle_Lake_Cree_Nation), the group's members originate from the [Treaty 6 area](/source/Treaty_6).{{cite web|title=Biography|website=Northern Cree Singers|url=http://www.northerncree.com/biography|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006171150/http://www.northerncree.com/biography|archive-date=6 October 2014}} These include Ferlin McGillvary, Steve Wood and [Joel Wood](/source/Joel_Wood_(musician)).{{cite web |title=Northern Cree Singers |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/northern-cree-singers-mn0000453924/ |website=AllMusic |access-date=15 March 2019 |language=en-us}} Additional members are Shane Dion, Leroy Whitstone, Penny McGilvery, Jonas Tootoosis, Marlon Deschamps, Conan Yellowbird, Dezi Chocan, Ben Cardinal, Kyle Pasquayak, JohnBoy Moosomin, Randall Paskemin, and Mickso Deschamps. Northern Cree has performed regularly at folk festivals Native American powwows across Canada and the United States and has won hundreds of championship powwow singing titles. They are the only traditional [Canadian Aboriginal](/source/Indigenous_peoples_in_Canada) group to have been nominated for a [Grammy](/source/Grammy_Awards). In 2017, the Singers, along with founder Randy Wood and [Tanya Tagaq](/source/Tanya_Tagaq), won a [Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year – Large Ensemble](/source/Juno_Award_for_Classical_Album_of_the_Year_%E2%80%93_Large_Ensemble_or_Soloist(s)_with_Large_Ensemble_Accompaniment) for the album ''Going Home Star''.{{cite news|last1=Saxberg|first1=Lynn|last2=Hum|first2=Peter|title=Gord Downie wins three Junos at music awards gala dinner Saturday night|work=[The London Free Press](/source/The_London_Free_Press)|date=1 April 2017|url=https://lfpress.com/2017/04/01/gord-downie-wins-three-junos-at-music-awards-gala-dinner-saturday-night|access-date=30 June 2025}} ==Discography== Northern Cree has released 38 recordings.{{cite web|title=Northern Cree|website=Buffalo Jump Records|url=https://buffalojumprecords.com/northern-cree/|access-date=14 August 2025}} Many are live recordings on [Canyon Records](/source/Canyon_Records). {|class=wikitable style="text-align:left;" |- ! Year ! Album |- |rowspan="3"|1991 |''Northern Cree Singers, Vol. 1'' |- |''Northern Cree Singers, Vol. 2'' |- |''Northern Cree Singers, Vol. 3: Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at [Fort Duchesne](/source/Fort_Duchesne%2C_Utah)'' |- |rowspan="2"|1993 |''Northern Cree Singers, Vol. 4: No Word Songs Please: Straight Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live'' |- |''Vol. 5: Pow Wow Songs Recorded Live'' |- |1994 |''Vol. 6: Pow Wow Songs Recorded Live'' |- |rowspan="2"|1996 |''Vol. 7: Pow Wow Songs, Live at Lummi'' |- |''Vol. 8: Come and Dance — Pow Wow Songs, Live at [Whiteriver](/source/Whiteriver%2C_Arizona)'' |- |1997 |''Dance Hard! : Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at Poundmaker's Lodge'' |- |rowspan="2"|1998 |''Honor the Eagle Feather: Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live in [Kamloops](/source/Kamloops)'' |- |''It's Time to Round Dance!'' |- |rowspan="3"|1999 |''Here to Stay'' |- |''In Our Drum We Trust'' |- |''Showtime: Round Dance Songs'' |- |rowspan="2"|2000 |''Rockin' the Rez: Pow-wow Songs Recorded Live at Saddle Lake'' |- |''Second Song: Dancer's Choice!: Pow-wow Songs Recorded Live at Saddle Lake'' |- |rowspan="3"|2002 |''Northern Cree and Friends, Vol. 1: Round Dance Songs Recorded Live'' |- |''Round Dance Jam'' |- |''Still Rezin′'' |- |2003 |''Northern Cree and Friends, Vol. 2: Honoring Singers and Songmakers'' |- |rowspan="2"|2004 |''Northern Cree and Friends, Vol. 3: Honoring Singers and Songmakers'' |- |''Rezonate: Pow-wow Songs Recorded Live at Saddle Lake'' |- |rowspan="2"|2005 |''Nikamo = "Sing": Pow-wow Songs Recorded Live at Samson'' |- |''Northern Cree and Friends, Vol. 4: Slide and Sway'' |- |rowspan="2"|2006 |''Northern Cree and Friends, Vol. 5: Long Winter Nights: Round Dance "Live!"'' |- |''Stay Red: Pow-wow Songs Recorded Live at Pullman'' |- |rowspan="2"|2007 |''Northern Cree and Friends, Vol. 6: Calling All Dancers'' |- |''Northern Cree and Friends, Vol. 7: Dancin' til Sunrise'' |- |2008 |''Red Rock: Pow-wow Songs Recorded Live at [Muckleshoot](/source/Muckleshoot)'' |- |2009 |''True Blue'' |- |2010 |''Temptations: Cree Round Dance Songs'' |- |2011 |''Drum Boy: Mistikwaskihk Napesis: Pow-wow Songs Recorded Live at Saddle Lake'' |- |2012 |''Dancerz Groove: Cree Round Dance Songs'' |- |2013 |''Loyalty to the Drum: Pow-wow Songs Recorded Live in [Rocky Boy](/source/Rocky_Boy's_Indian_Reservation)'' |- |rowspan="2"|2014 |''Breaking Boundaries: Pow-wow Songs Recorded Live at Red Mountain'' |- |''Ewipihcihk (ᐁᐏᐱᐦᒋᐦᐠ){{efn|Title translates to "to go Round Dancing (with)," or, "he/she goes Round Dancing (with)"}}: Cree Round Dance Songs'' |- |2016 |''It's a Cree Thing: Cree Round Dance Songs'' |- |2017 |''Mîyo Kekisepa, Make a Stand: Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at Red Mountain'' |- |2018 |''Nîtisânak (Brothers and Sister): Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at [Shakopee](/source/Shakopee%2C_Minnesota)'' |- |2019 |''When It's Cold: Cree Round Dance Songs'' |- |2022 |''Drums In the Pines: Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live in [Keshena](/source/Keshena)'' |- |} ===Other appearances=== Northern Cree was featured in the 1999 film ''[Grey Owl](/source/Grey_Owl_(film))''.{{cite news|last=La Rose|first=Lauren|title=Grammy award nominees Northern Cree will kick off ceremony in L.A.|website=[CBC News](/source/CBC_News)|date=6 February 2017|access-date=2 July 2025|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/indigenous-northern-cree-grammy-awards-1.3968735}}{{cite web|title=Northern Cree - In Our Drum We Trust (CR-6291)|website=Canyon Records|url=https://canyonrecords.com/product/northern-cree-in-our-drum-we-trust-cr-6291/|access-date=3 July 2025}} They are featured on the album ''[Gathering of Nations Pow Wow 1999](/source/Gathering_of_Nations_Pow_Wow_1999)'', which won a Grammy in 2001.{{cite news|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/21/grammy.winners/ |title=43rd Grammy Awards |access-date=July 15, 2010 |publisher=[CNN](/source/CNN) |date=February 21, 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081106040823/http://archives.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/21/grammy.winners/ |archive-date=November 6, 2008 }} The group is featured in the song and music video "Indomitable" by [DJ Shub](/source/DJ_Shub), which was nominated for Best EDM/Dance Video in the 2017 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards{{cite news|last=Bliss|first=Karen|title=Shawn Mendes, Grimes And A Tribe Called Red Lead The 2017 iHeartRadio MMVA Nominations|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/shawn-mendes-grimes-a-tribe-called-red-2017-iheartradio-mmvas-nominations-7800961/|work=Billboard|access-date=7 July 2025|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419101707/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/shawn-mendes-grimes-a-tribe-called-red-2017-iheartradio-mmvas-nominations-7800961/|archive-date=19 April 2022}} and won Best Music Video in the 2017 [Native American Music Awards](/source/Native_American_Music_Awards).{{cite web|title=Native American Music Awards 2017 Winners|website=Native American Music Awards|url=https://www.nativeamericanmusicawards.com/nama-17|access-date=8 July 2025}} In 2017, the group performed live as part of the pre-telecast for the [60th Annual Grammy Awards](/source/60th_Annual_Grammy_Awards), which was the first time that traditional Native American or Indigenous music was performed on the Grammy stage. Northern Cree is featured on the CDs which accompany [David Bouchard](/source/David_Bouchard)'s children's books in Cree and English: ''Nokum Is My Teacher'' (2006) and ''The Drum Calls Softly'' (2008), both on [Red Deer Press](/source/Red_Deer_Press). == Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" !Year !Award !Category !Nominated work !Result !Ref |- |2001 |[Native American Music Awards](/source/Native_American_Music_Awards) |Best Pow Wow Album | |{{won}} |{{cite web|title=Winners Directory|author=Native American Music Awards & Association Inc.|website=Native American Music Awards|date=2024|url=https://www.nativeamericanmusicawards.com/winners-directory|access-date=13 October 2025}} |- |2002 |rowspan="2"|[Grammy Awards](/source/Grammy_Awards) |rowspan="2"|[Best Native American Music Album](/source/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Native_American_Music_Album) |''Rockin' the Rez'' |{{Nominated}} |{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/complete-list-of-grammy-nominees/|title=Complete List Of Grammy Nominees|date=January 4, 2002|access-date=July 15, 2010|publisher=[CBS News](/source/CBS_News)}} |- |rowspan="2"|2004 |''Still Rezin''' |{{Nominated}} |{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/ref/arts/music/08grammy-list.html|title=Grammy Award Winners|author=[The Associated Press](/source/The_Associated_Press)|date=December 8, 2003|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 15, 2010}} |- |Native American Music Awards |Best Compilation Recording | |{{won}} | |- |rowspan="2"|2006 |rowspan="2"|[Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards](/source/Canadian_Aboriginal_Music_Awards) |Best Contemporary Pow-Wow Album |''Nikamo – "Sing!"'' |{{won}} |rowspan="2"|{{cite web|title=Northern Cree Receives Two Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards|website=World Music Central|date=5 December 2006|url=https://worldmusiccentral.org/northern-cree-receives-two-canadian-aboriginal-music-awards/|access-date=29 October 2025}} |- |Best Hand Drum Album |''Northern Cree & Friends, Vol. 4 – Slide & Sway'' |{{won}} |- |rowspan="3"|2007 |Grammy Awards |Best Native American Music Album |''Northern Cree & Friends, Vol. 5: Long Winter Nights'' |{{Nominated}} |{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/49th-annual-grammy-awards|title=49th Annual Grammy Awards|website=Grammy Awards|access-date=10 July 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208042944/https://www.grammy.com/awards/49th-annual-grammy-awards|archive-date=8 February 2013}} |- |[Juno Awards](/source/Juno_Awards) |[Aboriginal Recording of the Year](/source/Juno_Award_for_Indigenous_Artist_or_Group_of_the_Year) |''Stay Red'' |{{Nominated}} |{{cite web|title=Past Nominees + Winners|website=The JUNO Awards|url=https://junoawards.ca/awards/past-winners-nominees/|access-date=14 July 2025}} |- |Native American Music Awards |Best Pow Wow Album | |{{won}} | |- |2009 |rowspan="4"|Grammy Awards |rowspan="3"|Best Native American Music Album |''Red Rock: Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at Muckleshoot'' |{{Nominated}} |{{cite news|url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/awards/2008/12/complete_list_of_grammy_nomine_1.html|title=Complete list of Grammy nominees|last=Conner|first=Thomas|author-link=:de:Thomas Conner|date=December 3, 2008|work=[Chicago Sun-Times](/source/Chicago_Sun-Times)|access-date=July 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207123200/http://blogs.suntimes.com/awards/2008/12/complete_list_of_grammy_nomine_1.html|archive-date=December 7, 2008|url-status=dead|publisher=[Sun-Times Media Group](/source/Sun-Times_Media_Group)}} |- |2010 |''True Blue'' |{{Nominated}} |{{cite web|url=http://www2.grammy.com/grammy_awards/52nd_show/list.aspx#13|title=The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards Nominees List|website=Grammy.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618185140/http://www2.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/52nd_show/list.aspx|archive-date=June 18, 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=July 15, 2010}} |- |2011 |''Temptations: Cree Round Dance Songs'' |{{Nominated}} |{{cite news|url=http://theenvelope.latimes.com/news/breaking/newsletter/la-et-env-grammys-nominees-2010-list,0,4822287.htmlstory|title=53rd Annual Grammy Awards nominees list|work=[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)|access-date=December 2, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205235642/http://theenvelope.latimes.com/news/breaking/newsletter/la-et-env-grammys-nominees-2010-list,0,4822287.htmlstory|archive-date=5 December 2010}} |- |rowspan="5"|2017 |[Best Regional Roots Music Album](/source/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Regional_Roots_Music_Album) |''It's a Cree Thing'' |{{Nominated}} |{{Cite web|date=February 12, 2017|title=59th Annual GRAMMY Awards Winners & Nominees|url=https://www.grammy.com/nominees|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213051242/https://www.grammy.com/nominees|archive-date=February 13, 2017|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=GRAMMY.com}} |- |[Indigenous Music Awards](/source/Indigenous_Music_Awards) |Lifetime Achievement Award | |{{won}} | |- |Juno Awards |[Classical Album of the Year – Large Ensemble](/source/Juno_Award_for_Classical_Album_of_the_Year_%E2%80%93_Large_Ensemble_or_Soloist(s)_with_Large_Ensemble_Accompaniment) |''Going Home Star'' |{{Won}} | |- |rowspan="2"|Native American Music Awards |Best Music Video | |{{won}} |rowspan="2"| |- |Best Pow Wow Recording | |{{won}} |- |2018 |Grammy Awards |Best Regional Roots Music Album |''Miyo Kekisepa, Make a Stand [Live]'' |{{Nominated}} |{{Cite web|date=28 November 2017|title=60th GRAMMY Awards: Full Nominees List|url=http://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/60th-grammy-awards-full-nominees-list|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127000540/http://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/60th-grammy-awards-full-nominees-list|archive-date=27 January 2018|website=Grammy.com}} |- |2019 |Juno Awards |[Indigenous Music Album of the Year](/source/Juno_Award_for_Indigenous_Artist_or_Group_of_the_Year) |''Nitisanak - Brothers and Sister'' |{{Nominated}} |{{Cite web|url=https://junoawards.ca/nominees/printer-friendly/|title=2019 JUNO Award Nominees|website=The JUNO Awards|access-date=2019-03-12|archive-date=2019-04-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423141221/https://junoawards.ca/nominees/printer-friendly/|url-status=dead}} |- |2020 |Grammy Awards |Best Regional Roots Music Album |''When It's Cold - Cree Round Dance Songs'' |{{Nominated}} |{{Cite web|date=January 26, 2020|title=2019 Grammy Winners & Nominees|url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/62nd-annual-grammy-awards-2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129234322/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/62nd-annual-grammy-awards-2019|archive-date=January 29, 2020|access-date=February 5, 2022|url-status=live|website=GRAMMY.com}} |- |} ==Notes== {{notelist}} ==References== {{reflist}} {{Authority control}} Category:First Nations musical groups Category:Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year – Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) with Large Ensemble Accompaniment winners Category:Musical groups from Alberta Category:Plains Indian music Category:Cree culture --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Northern Cree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Cree) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Cree?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.