Chubby Cree
Chubby Cree is a Cree hand drum ensemble whose main members are Noah Green and his grandmother Carol Powder. They are based in Edmonton, Alberta.[1]
Origins
Powder and Green are members of the Samson Cree Nation.[2] Powder was raised as a native Cree speaker and was first taught to sing by her grandfather.[3] Powder reports that she first heard Green sing at the age of eight months, when he mimicked a tune she was singing to him as she put him to bed. She bought him his first drum when he was one year old,[1][4] and he first performed in a group at the age of two.[3]
In September 2024, Powder, her husband, and their 10 grandchildren found themselves homeless after being evicted because their landlord planned to sell the house they were renting, and they faced anti-Indigenous discrimination in finding a new home.[5] They found a new home later that year with the help of an outpouring of community support, including from the charity Jordan's Principle, MLA Janis Irwin, and the bookstore Audreys Books.[5][6]
Musical career
The group is named after a nickname given to Powder's younger brother Rick, who had died in 2016.[1] The ensemble Chubby Cree was originally mostly women, comprising Powder, Green, and four of Powder's daughters;[2] Powder has been a strong opponent of protocols that keep women from playing the drum at powwows.[7] Powder and Green are the main members now, although they are sometimes still joined by Powder's daughter Robin or others.[3] Powder and Green both sing and drum, and Green has been particularly acclaimed for his powerful voice.[1][4]
Chubby Cree's first major performance as a duo was outside the Alberta Legislature Building before Greta Thunberg took the stage at the October 2019 Strike for Climate Action.[1] Green was nine years old at the time.[4] They have since played at numerous other events, including the commemoration of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Surrey, British Columbia in 2022[3][8] and memorials for homeless people who died in Edmonton.[9] Powder and Green play many traditional songs but also write their own, and in 2022 released their first single, "Rock Your World".[10]
In 2023, the group was the subject of Jules Koostachin's documentary Chubby Cree: PiMahCiHoWin (The Journey), which was released through Telus Originals.[1][3] In 2024, their story was the subject of a picture book, The Heartbeat Drum by Deirdre Havrelock.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Luciano, Abby (2023-11-09). "Witness the Power of 'Chubby Cree'". The Tyee. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
- ^ a b Narine, Shari (2016-08-18). "All-women's drum group has powerful impact on lives". Windspeaker Media. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ a b c d e Koostachin, Jules Arita (2023). Chubby Cree: PiMahCiHoWin (The Journey) (Motion picture). Telus Originals. Retrieved 2025-03-30.
- ^ a b c Konguavi, Thandiwe (2019-10-25). "Young Cree singer gains international attention after Edmonton climate strike". CBC News. Retrieved 2025-03-30.
- ^ a b Hills, Jason (2024-11-12). "'Praying we find a home': Indigenous family forced out of Edmonton house still searching for new place". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ a b Hills, Jason (2024-11-30). "Outpouring of support leads to new Edmonton home for displaced Indigenous family: 'Such a blessing'". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ Smith, Andrea. "Men only by tradition: Women can't hit the big drum". Windspeaker Media. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ Zillich, Tom (2022-09-14). "Grandmother and grandson drum up Chubby Cree, in Surrey ahead of Day for Truth and Reconciliation". Surrey Now-Leader. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ Stewart, Chris (2022-06-16). "'They are people': Memorial to city's homeless held in Edmonton". APTN News. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ Chubby Cree shares their sound in new music video (short video). Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2022-06-07.