ALBUM CONCEPT

Blackfoot Sky is about creating a tool of sharing through the art of songwriting. The result was a musical novel with songs and stories about my view of Blackfoot pride and history

“Blackfoot sky is a collection of songs that have been sitting unwritten in my creative shelf for several years now. I put it off for so long, but knew that it only needed to be tapped and when the stories began to form they would write themselves. As you can read from the theme and stories in the song lyrics, you can see how important the songs are and have developed a life of their own once they reached paper.

I’ve met many people over the course of my career and have found so much strength in myself and who I was as a Blackfoot person. Because my culture is so rooted in the land I live in, there is so much strength in the physical environment, animate and inanimate that enriches the spirit.

Being so fortunate to be indigenous to the land, the key now is to share and enrich those people, places and things around you. That is what I hope to give with the creation of this piece of art, Blackfoot Sky.

But there are challenges in our Blackfoot history and present day that we are only beginning to speak about, comfortably. Too many times First Nations issues are not spoken of because they are so complex and multifaceted. They create emotion and uncertainty. But it is important to put all the facts on the table when teaching history, as the good Blackfoot history is not been often told. Without taking away anything from that, the most important part of sharing these stories is to strengthening their purpose and building on something good.

Nothing is absolute, there can be change.” ...Ira Provost 2008

ALBUM COVER ARTWORK

Miracle Standing Alone (Blackfoot Name: Pootakii, meaning “Flying”) is a Nistitapi (Real People) of the Kainai Nation. She is a decendent of the Standing Alone/Plaited Hair and Many Grey Horses/Many Bears Families. Miracle’s father is Patrick Standing Alone, son of Pete Standing Alone and Mattie Plaited Hair. Miracles mother is Ruth Provost, daughter of Molly Many Grey Horses and Winston Many Bears. Miracle is the Fifth Generation Granddaughter to Chief Red Crow of the Blood Tribe. Special recognition goes to Miracle as she is also the step daughter to Ira Provost creator of the Blackfoot Sky CD.

Miracle began her talent of Native art in high school developing multiple mediums such as collages, paintings, sculptures and charcoal. Miracle also went beyond traditional artistic work to create the featured The Blackfoot Sky CD cover. She created the piece out of a single yellow pencil crayon and make-up. The Blackfoot Sky picture is of the sacred and most influential symbolic representation of the Blackfoot people Chief Mountain including the traditional symbols of the Blackfoot Confederacy tribes.

Miracle currently upholds her traditional Blackfoot ways as she lives sincerely by the respected way asked of the women. Miracle is currently attending university and plans to continue working on her aboriginal art pieces.

SONG DESCRIPTIONS

BLACKFOOT SKY - If you take a drive to a place located in what is now known as Southern Alberta, Canada whether it be Calgary, Lethbridge, Fort Macleod or Cardston, get out of your car and look up…as far as your eye can see, in any direction you look, you are under a Blackfoot Sky, sky that is over Blackfoot territory.

The history of the Blackfoot people stretches far back before written record and lives in the Earth, the animals, the rivers and the heart of the indigenous people and is as strong as it has ever been.

As an educator of Aboriginal programs, I was once asked to comment on the dying culture and language of my people…I answered: after a short absence in the public knowledge my Blackfoot culture is growing and growing strong, I’m living proof.

Blackfoot Sky is my honor and compassion song for the Blackfoot heritage and people.

MY HISTORY - is a composition about true First Nations history and perspective past and present, that most Native American people can related to. It speaks about events and truths not yet in our common psyche, read or learned about in school that when taught right could bring fundamental understanding to the confusion about First Nation issues.

I write of a few key issues that I encourage more reading, research and investigation to be done by those who want to learn more about proper history of the land now known as Canada.

I’LL LIVE - Iikaa’kimaat - Blackfoot word for “endure, try hard”. Our Elders say: today live each day with the Creator in your heart and do the best in what you do. I’ll live today the best way I can and be happy for my loved ones so that we’ll all, in good heath and happiness, grow old together.

THE LAND OF THE BLIND - Terrorism has been in the land now known as Canada long before we could fly arms to other nations. This song is dedicated to those warriors who have fought and continue to strive everyday for truth and justice to North American Indigenous people and their taken land and history. This “playground” belongs to the opokaa’sin and their futures.

WATCH OVER ME - Residential Schools were real and they operated on the sacred soil of the Blackfoot people a short few years ago. This song is written with the utmost respect to the survivors and generations that will continue to be affected by the loss and reclamation of parenthood and togetherness. Please take what you will from this song with the intention of shedding darkness and fostering understanding so that we don’t repeat history. The song speaks from multiple perspectives.

FEED THE CHANGE - The working poor. This is dedicated to all those who get up each day and do the best for their families but still combat an ever accelerating cost of living. Going without has a “new name” or a changing definition. It is no longer restricted to those who do not have any money and are forced to live on the streets, it encompasses those families who can’t make ends meet with great effort and only want the best for their children. I sincerely wish that there comes a day when no child goes to bed hungry.

REWRITING DUNCAN - In the 1913, Duncan Campbell Scott became the head of the Department of Indian Affairs. In 1920, under Scott’s direction, it became mandatory for all native children between the ages of 4-15 to attend one of Canada’s residential schools. “I want to get rid of the Indian Problem…” was a quote from Scott. Scott published many writings and poems on Canada and the indigenous people and the way he thought it should be; a race that will fade shortly with time. Blackfoot people have survived this terror and will continue to be proud of who they are until the end of time.

Today I am rewriting history as it truly was, today I am Rewriting Duncan.

MOTHER AND ME - Sakoamitopi - Mother Earth, the spirit of the land. She’s alive but she’s weakened from all the pressure modern industry has put on her. Let’s work together to change the way we think, the way we live so that and our grand children will have long lives…saamipatipiio.

MR. MUSICMAN - A perspective of years on the road, a genuine love-hate relationship most musicians can relate to.

FLYING - Feeling good, being able to see the Porcupines, the Belly Buttes, The Rockies, the Foothills, Chief Mountain, the Oldman, and hear the birds call, the wind blow, all at once…home.