Wabanag
Encyclopedia
History
Wabanag is a Canadian-Finnish ethnic rock band based in Helsinki, Finland. The Band was originally founded and formed by singer/songwriter Yovan NagwetchYovan Nagwetch
-Biography:He was born in the Gaspésie village of Chandler, Quebec and grew up in Montreal. He is a Métis of Wabanaki ancestry, a hoop of small Native American nations located on the Atlantic shore of Canada and the USA...
in the early 1990s after he emigrated to Finland, after spending many years performing and travelling elsewhere in Europe, most notably in France. He is a Canadian Wabanaki
Wabanaki
Wabanaki, Wabenaki, Wobanaki, etc. may refer to:In geography* area referred as the "Dawn land" by many Algonquian-speaking peoples to describe the Eastern region of the North American continent, generally described as being New England in the United States, plus Quebec and the Maritimes in CanadaIn...
Métis
Métis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
from Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. The homeland of the Wabanaki Métis consists of the eastern region of the North American continent, generally described as being New England in the United States, plus Quebec and the Maritimes in Canada. Their history dates back to the sixteenth century when the first Europeans, mainly French, married within local tribes and adopted the “Indian” way of life.
After arriving in Finland Nagwetch started to explore the musical heritage of his Wabanaki ancestors resulting in the creation of Wabanag, a concept band gathering young musicians of different ethnic backgrounds and playing Nagwetch's music.
Wabanag was nominated for Best International Album at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards in 2005 for their album Ulodi, for blending traditional native music and contemporary styles.
In the music of Wabanag, hand drums, rattles, bows, wooden sticks, flutes, and other traditional instruments are used sparingly along with vocals and strong rhythmic lines (bass, drums, guitars). Most of the songs are in Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
languages and refer to the natural elements and the spiritual world of the native people from the Maritimes, as well as to their traditional way of life.
At present Wabanag is active and touring.
Members
- Yovan NagwetchYovan Nagwetch-Biography:He was born in the Gaspésie village of Chandler, Quebec and grew up in Montreal. He is a Métis of Wabanaki ancestry, a hoop of small Native American nations located on the Atlantic shore of Canada and the USA...
: Lead singer, flute, frame drum - Juha Jokiranta : Guitar
- Iivo Baric : Bass
- Jussi Nikula : Drums
Former members
- Dáithí O'CléirighDáithí O'CléirighDáithí O'Cléirigh is a freelance session musician, producer, percussionist and drummer originally from Dublin, Ireland. Presently based in Helsinki, Finland, he produces, composes and performs with many locally based artists....
: Acoustic Drums and Various Percussion - Esu Holopainen : Percussion, Guitar
- Jani Takkunen : Drums and percussion
- Aleksi Lausti : Bass Guitar
Ulodi (2004)
- Ulodi – 1:41
- Yabadjasit Uskidjinudi – 3:10
- Djonetch – 4:31
- Welalin – 4:20
- Apkwallnuagi – 5:21
- Niskamiktuk – 6:54
- Ntelnuegadimka – 3:56
- Dla`hadigetch – 3:59
- Melkigenan – 6:47
- Amitola – 2:54
- Konawa – 4:38
- Ulodi – 0:55