Native Nations

sexta-feira, 15 de abril de 2011

A Tribute to Wes Studi

He is a cherokee actor who has been acting brillantly in many roles. His well succeeded carreer has many awards and nominations. Very well deserved!!

Native Oklahoman, Vietnam veteran, sculptor, musician, author, activist. Each of those describes the legendary actor Wes Studi. Within a few years of his arrival in Hollywood, Studi caught the attention of the public in Dances with Wolves. In 1992, his powerful performance as Magua in Last of the Mohicans established him as one of the most compelling actors in the business.

On April 20, 2009 Studi appeared as Major Ridge in Trail of Tears, the third episode of We Shall Remain  a ground breaking mini-series that establishes Native history as an essential part of American history from PBS's acclaimed series American Experience. He spoke his native Cherokee language.

Studi has since appeared in more than 50 film and television productions ( I am listing below all his imdb list ). His upcoming films include Avatar, directed by James Cameron.
In James Cameron’s new 3-D, sci-fi blockbuster “Avatar,” Cherokee actor Wes Studi lends his voice and face to the computer-generated character Eytukan, who with his wife is responsible for the safety and well being of the Omaticaya clan whose planet is being invaded by a private army bent on exploiting its resources. As one of the human characters says early in the film, “We have an indigenous population called the Na’vi….They are very hard to kill.”( By the way, Avatar in my opinion is so similar to real life... ). Even it´s a hollywood movie, it´s a movie who can touch people in general and maybe make everyonce start thinking about Indigenous causes...from the Fantasy to the reality of many nations once the movie portraits what has been happening to many native nations for centuries.


I definitly can not think about anyone else playing the role of "Geronimo" - This warrior and Leader Apache is so remarkable for the history and Wes showed him to the general public in a way that I imagine the producers and directors of this film even did not think about any other native actor to portrait him.


Leader of the resistance is a familiar role for Studi Whether in “Geronimo: An American Legend,” “Last of the Mohicans,” or “Dances with Wolves,” Studi has played the indigenous man who fights against incursion.
The New Word

Also the way he portraited Wovoca in Bury my heart at Wonded knee was fabulous and touching...I could not let to mention it here...but for me personally his work in Comanche Moon is the most remarkable and fantastic.


Geronimo
As I could not watch Trail of Tears - A Cherokee Legacy and We shall remain , I ask to all my beloved readers to go to Avalon´s Blog to read more about this awesome person and talenty actor - West Studi  ( http://www.avalon-medieval.blogspot.com/ ) . Also you can check out his fabulous work as a sculptor in his webiste.

( watch the video tribute to Wes Studi made by Avalon )


http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0836071/bio

http://www.thestudigroup.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wes_Studi
 

sábado, 2 de abril de 2011

Native Music on the Blog - First part

For all my dear readers and followers  I am very happy to share some Native Music ..here it goes some of way awesome ones . Really hope everyone enjoy it !!!

Brule & Airo ( Lakota Nation )


They play a very original style of music mixing opera rock, flute and traditional hand drum.   Their gigs are very impressive and brings an outsdanting presentation of traditional native dancers . Fabulous!! The group has already sold more than one million copies and won several awards and nomination.

Current band members are: Paul LaRoche ( keyboards ); Nicole LaRoche ( Paul´s daughter ) flute ; Shane LaRoche ( Paul´s son ) guitar ; Vlasis on percussion; Lowery Begay on traditional drum  e Kurt Olson ( drum kit ).

Paul, Nicole, and Shane are enrolled members of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe of SD. Lowery is an enrolled member of the Diné Nation.


Current traditional dancers include: Lowery Begay, Garan Coons, Chris Estes, Douglas Scholfield, Linda Thompson & Josette Wahwasuck.




( Just to mention that this video has the participation of Moses Brings Plenty but he is not part of the group anymore )



http://www.brulerecords.com/
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=99851752586


The Plateros ( Navajo Nation )


Levi Platero is the lead of a familiar rock blues band from Tohajiilee New México and they are all members of Navajo Nation. Even being so young Levi is considered one of the best guitar players nowadays . They had their first appearance in 2004 and since then they have been nominated several times and won many awards in many Native Festivals. I have to mention that it was a great clue of one of my friends who kindly contribute with my articles. J

http://www.nativestars.com/
http://www.nativemusicrocks.com/






http://www.facebook.com/pages/PLATEROS/82588434286


George Leach ( Cree ) 



Everytime I think about George Leach, loved by the buffalo his caracter in Into the west comes to my mind. That was the first time I put my eyes on him but due to my natural curiosity and inborn talent for researches I had  the great surprise to know that George is not just an actor but also a way cool singer and guitar player besides being a dedicated  pottery design. A complete artist in all meanings.





Ghostland Observatory

That´s the most awesome and modern style of music made by natives that I ever knew. These guys really rock and I am pretty sure that their gig must chill. Thus, I haven´t found out yet Which native nation they are from but as soon as I get the right information I´ll post here surely.
Thomas Turner: all that is electronic and organic... Aaron Behrens: all that is.........

Ghostland Observatory is not a band, but an agreement between two friends to create something that not only heals their beat-driven hearts, but pleases their rock ‘n roll souls.


 I am sharing here a video of one of their gigs with participation of Native dancers and John Gibbs on hand drum. All I could say after watching this vid was that I really wish I had been there...



http://www.ghostlandobservatory.net/
www.myspace.com/ghostlandobservatory
http://www.trashymoped.com/
http://www.facebook.com/ghostlandobservatory


Black Fire ( Navajo Nation )



Another familiar band from Navajo Nation, created by two brothers ( Klee Benally and Clayson Benally ) and one sister ( Jeneda Benally ). Black fire has a punk rock sound engaged in issues toward  politic and social from Native Nation. Their rock and roll music reflects hope and freedom and it´s a mixed of punk rock and traditional native music. They also have traditional group of dance during their gigs.

http://www.blackfire.net/










Indigenous


Originally the band was compound by family members lead by Mato Nanji from South Dakota´s Nakoda Nation, place among root of rock´s elite. Now the band has gotten new members once the original ones left to pursue other musical paths. “ Everybody decided to go their own way, leaving me to carry on Indigenous, “ Nanji says. “ Playing with my family for 10 years was a lot of fun, but it was time to grow”.

So Nanji recruited guitarist Kris Lager, keyboardist Jeremiah Weir, bassist Aaron Wright, and drummer John Fairchild to tour behind Chasing the Sun. They also appear on Broken Lands, joined by drummer Kirk Stallings, percussionist Chico Perez, and Mato’s wife Leah Nanji on backing vocals. Producer Jamie Candiloro (Ryan Adams, R.E.M., Willie Nelson, the Eagles) completed the studio team.

 Now Indigenous is a new band again and I feel that same excitement," he continues

http://www.indigenousrock.com/
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/indigenousrocks