Young Medicine aka Jamie Medicine Crane and Curt Young are making waves spreading the love and First Nations culture through their music.
Their new CD “ Be Your own Person” is aptly named.
It combines Curt Young's blues and folk guitar with Jamie Medicine Crane's flute and storytelling.
“It's a mix of traditional and contemporary,” described Curt Young, taking shelter from the rain after playing their set at Galt Gardens for The Lethbridge 2019 Winter Games Bid.
It has been nominated for a 2014 APCMA 2014 award for best group or duo. They will find out if they won in September in Winnipeg.
The duo perform regularly at community events including numerous fundraisers, including a weekend fundraiser at Smokehouse for firefighters Adopt A Family, Rock N’ The Nations, Word On The Street and recently at Galt Gardens at Lethbridge's bid for the Winter Games, Aug. 21.
Curt Young comes from the Salteaux-Cree from Gordon’s and Cowessess First Nations in Saskatchewan and Jamie Medicine Crane is Blackfoot from Kainai & Piikani Nations in Alberta. They are in the process of moving to Edmonton but will be back to play a SHIA Fundraiser on Aug. 26 at CKXU Love and Records on Sept. 13. as well as several other events.
Medicine Crane noted it was important to include the storytelling aspect of their shows on the CD.
They duo have travelled all over Canada, Peru, Hawaii and even China and Africa spreading their message, music , dance and culture. Working with youth at gatherings and events is an important part of what they do.
“It’s really important that people hear the stories,” she said.
She noted there are two specific stories on the CD which are important “ Great Spirit” and Niiksokwa.
“O Great Spirit is a 200 year old prayer and Niikosokwa is about Mother Earth and the four colours of the colour wheel. They compete with each other. They think each one is more important than the other and deserve more but it leads to Mother Earth dying. They start blaming each other so she convinces them to work together,” she summarized.
“Before there were schools, there were storytellers. That was our education,” Young added.
“ We’re just trying to send the message that is important to be yourself. There is so much pressure. There's the physical which is you and me talking and then there is social media, where a lot of people spend more of their time,” he continued.
Young noted the duo are optimistic about their chance of winning the award.
“ I’ve been nominated three times as a solo artist. But this is the first time we’ve been nominated as a duo,” he said adding the first stage of the competition was judged by record industry professionals including record producers and industry people. Once they passed that stage, the public votes on the winner.
“ So the next time we see you we’ll bring home the award,” he said.
