St. Paul-based singer will appear at Treaty Six Contemporary Arts Festival
Fawn Wood won the Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year title at the Juno Awards in Toronto on Sunday.
Wood, who lives in St. Paul, grew up immersed in the cultural and musical traditions of her parents. Her father, Earl Wood, is from Saddle Lake Cree Nation and performed with the notable Northern Cree group. Her mother Cindy Jim-Wood taught her the traditions and Salish chants of the Whonnock and Stlatlimx peoples.
Her Juno nomination was for her album kakike, released last year on the Buffalo Jump label. According to Buffalo Jump, “on kakike Fawn weaves songs of longing, hope and the joys of life that uplift the soul and heal the heart.” She is joined on the album by her husband Dallas Waskahat, as well as Charles Wood III,
Tony Duncan, and Alan DiPerna.
Wood and Waskahat had previously collaborated on two recordings: ‘Til the End on the Drum Hop label and Blessings, released by Canyon Records.
Wood will be performing on the main stage at the Treaty Six Contemporary Arts Festival, coming to Cold Lake June 11. Other mainstage performers will be Jarrid Lee, Debbie Houle, Robin Cisek, DJ Kookum, Kehewin Native Dance Theatre, and Electric Religious.
The festival will also present established visual artists Lana Whiskeyjack, Jill Janvier, Juanita Jordan, Arsan Buffalo, Jim Gladue, Wade Stamp, Chris Lightning, Jaime Hele, and Alya Modeste; and will introduce several emerging artists.
The Treaty Six Contemporary Arts Festival was initially intended to run in September of 2021, but uncertainty surrounding Covid-19 resulted in the rescheduling. It is billed as “a showcase of contemporary Indigenous art from all across Western Treaty Six Territory” and “a celebration of Indigenous artists working in the mediums of visual art, spoken-word, performance art, and music.”
Tickets for mainstage performances are available through treatysixcontemporary.com.