Frazer Sundown

I can’t remember an exact time that I very first started singing. My family has always been around Indigenous music such as going to Powwows, Ceremonies, and many different cultural events. Through that exposure of cultural music, it is where I picked up the gift of singing. They teach us that when our voices change is when we become singers or whatever gifts we may hold. In my early teenage years is when I started exposing myself as a singer.

My music connects me to my roots in many aspects. I get a sense of spirituality through the different emotion that is being revealed while singing. A lot of the songs may have language in them and so, that entitles me to learn what the words are and what they mean which connects me to my roots big time. With singing comes dancing, and these different dance styles require a different kind of song, this also entitles me to learn more about Indigenous Culture.

I recently made the choice to go back to school. I plan on becoming a language teacher so, the program I have been taking keeps me connected as well. I am a father so having to keep up with making outfits for my daughter to partake in cultural events keeps me connected.

I want to encourage youth from all of our Nations and Tribes to continue to do follow their ways that their ancestors passed on to them and that leading a good & healthy life is what these ways of our ancestors intended for us. Also, our music is cool thing which brings joy to all of the world as opposed to just our people.

Music is a definite number 1 answer for this. I usually resort to writing whether it would be in a journal or a new song when I’m going through a hurdle in life. Sometimes it doesn’t always work so, I try to find other things to do such as working with Corn Husk or arts and crafts that contribute to my culture and heritage.

Community means a lot of things to me. I guess the equivalent for community would have to be “Family”. My community has definitely played a big role in singing because my “family” from many different places connected me to other people such as my self. Being connected in such a way has opened many doors for me pertaining to my skills in art.

I look at life’s struggles as if they were hurdles that I have to get ready to jump over like in Track & Field. I found out that in every choice I make, there is always going to be a hurdle. If I prepare my self mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally, I can handle what life throws at me. It’s all about having that positive outlook on things and assuring yourself that everything is going to be okay and for the best.

So much could be said to this question. What is most important to me is our future generations to come. I would like to see the many leaderships in the world to take these future generations to come into consideration when making decisions. Another important issue if I may, is that the Indigenous People of North America be recognized as they are and within the means of their ways. We shouldn’t be categorized into one group with only one way to follow. We are all different and follow different ways as there are many Indigenous groups.

Cris Derksen

Tomorrow is another day to start over.