Rural History and Culture Association » New Videos

NORTH-WEST MOUNTED POLICE SONG POSTED TO RHCA WEBSITE

Mike — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:23:04 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

Tommy-John Ehman of Craik is one of the Saskatchewan singer/songwriters participating in the Celebrate the NWMP Trail festivals that are taking place between July 1 and August 2, 2009. Tommy was inspired by the history of the NWMP Trail to write a song especially for performance at the festivals. Appropriately entitled, “The North-West Mounted Police,” the song captures the epic spirit of the Trail and is a tribute to the the NWMP officers who rode the Trail between 1875 and 1912. Tommy premiered the song at the RCMP Heritage Centre in Regina during the Celebrate the NWMP Trail media event on June 25 and performed the song at the Wood Mountain and Val Marie festivals on July 1 and July 24. The video to the right features Tommy’s performance of the song in Val Marie.

The sixth and final Celebrate the NWMP Trail festival takes place at Fort Walsh National Historic Site on August 2, 2009. The schedule includes: “The Spirits of the Trail,” a “horse opera” portraying the relationship between NWMP Officer James Walsh and Sioux Chieftain Sitting Bull written by Ken Mitchell; the History of the Trail by noted historian and award-winning author Garrett Wilson; Everett Baker Trail by the Saskatchewan History and Folklore Society; First Nations performances; concerts from Ragtime Don and the Word Junkie and Karen Blackwell Jones and a finale storytelling circle and potluck supper. All this and Fort Walsh National Historic Site will be offering its regular tours!

Over 1000 people attended the first five Celebrate the NWMP Trail festivals and pictures, videos and descriptions of the first five events have also been posted to the RHCA website. More pictures and videos will be added after Fort Walsh but if you want to get a taste of what happened at Wood Mountain, McCord, Eastend, Shaunavon and Val Marie be sure to check out the site.

MEGAN NASH & KAREN BLACKWELL JONES VIDEOS ADDED TO RHCA WEBSITE

Mike — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:25:13 +0000

Two videos featuring performers from recent Celebrate the NWMP Trail festivals in Eastend and Shaunavon have been posted in the music section of the RHCA website. The videos are by Megan Nash of Mortlach and Karen Blackwell Jones of Dinsmore, two of Saskatchewan’s most talented singer/songwriters. Megan’s song called “Sober,” is a homage to “typical” country songs and takes an amusing look at the results of over indulgence. Karen’s beautiful melodies in “Pray for Rain,” contemplated the past, present and future of the family farm.

ROUND DANCE SONGS BY DION TOOTOOSIS ADDED TO MUSIC SECTION

Mike — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:55:30 +0000

Dion Tootoosis

Dion Tootoosis is a Saskatchewan musician, storyteller and educator and one of the principals of Buffalo Boy Productions, a Saskatoon-based company, that specializes in First Nations cultural performances and storytelling. On March 2nd, 2009, Dion performed three of his round dance songs that will be included on the upcoming CD: Los Indios, Inc. Hand Drum Songs. The three songs are: Crossroads Blues; Raisin Love Song; and Shake My Booty. These three have been added to the Music section of RHCA’s Saskatchewan Voices: Past and Present.

TOMMY-JOHN EHMAN ADDED TO SASKATCHEWAN VOICES-MUSIC

Mike — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:16:55 +0000

Tommy-John Ehman

A new video has been added to the Saskatchewan Voices section of the RHCA website with Tommy-John Ehman has been added to the Music section. Hailing from Craik, Saskatchewan, Tommy-John Ehman is one of Saskatchewan’s most talented singer/songwriters. His songs speak poignantly to many aspects of the Saskatchewan experience. This video features songs from two of his recent CDs. Like Father Like Son, comes from the album of the same name, and addresses the difficulty of generational transition on the farm. The other two songs are from the CD, Wheels of Life. Stand up for Your Country is an expression of Canadian pride while Song for the Soldier is a tribute to veterans.

NEW SECTION BRINGS SASKATCHEWAN VOICES TO THE WEB

Mike — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:57:07 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Rural History and Culture Association has just added a new section to its website called “Saskatchewan Voices: Past & Present.” The new section features pictures, audio and video recordings that speak to the Saskatchewan experience. This will include everything from historic recordings of speeches to performances by today’s Saskatchewan singer/songwriters and actors. Currently the section has four sub-sections:

Rhetoric features historic oratory with short speeches from five of Saskatchewan’s early Premiers already posted. These include Tommy Douglas, William Patterson, James Gardiner, Charles Dunning and William Martin. The video to the right features one of these speeches.

Music features Saskatchewan singer/songwriters performing music that reflects our Saskatchewan identity. These include Ragtime Don and the Ghost Town Gang’s “Threshing Crew,” based on a poem from the early 1900s, and “The Song of Louis Riel,” some verses of which, according to legend, were written by Riel himself.

Images already includes nearly 100 pictures of monuments, museums, murals, churches and other historic buildings from all over Saskatchewan.

Performances features actors portraying historic individuals and moments. Portrayals of Nellie McClung, John Diefenbaker and James Gardiner have already been posted.

In the next month or so, look forward to additional section to be added called Conversations, which will feature interviews with historians and people who lived history.

NELLIE MCCLUNG VIDEO POSTED

Mike — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:52:46 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

In November, St. Andrew’s College at the University of Saskatchewan celebrated and commemorated International Person’s Day by staging Nellie McClung: A One ‘Person’ Play. The play was very well-received, playing to packed houses for two performances at Grace United Church in Saskatoon. The RHCA recorded the play digitally for the show’s producers and has created a video, just under 10 minutes (the Youtube limit) and posted it on the RHCA Youtube site. The play was written by Kathy Morrell and starred Wendy Sticker as Nellie McClung.

FOUR NEW RHCA VIDEOS POSTED

Mike — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:37:34 +0000

During the summer and early fall of 2008, the RHCA in cooperation with a number of partners, staged four very successful events celebrating and commemorating Saskatchewan history and culture. Videos featuring highlights of these four events have been added to the RHCA’s Youtube site. Each is just under 10 minutes (The Youtube limit) and captures the spirit of the event. Slightly longer versions of each (ranging from 12 to 16 minutes in length) will also be made on a DVD that will be provided to RHCA supporters and friends. The events featured in these videos are:

James Gardiner Vs the Ku Klux Klan: The Struggle for a Multicultural Future
Dief is the Chief . . . Again!
Old Wives Lake Festival
Storytellers Showcase & Concert