The Thunder Bird Sisters Still Singin' Music Review by Tim Hays (Ho Chunk)

The end of the twentieth century brought about a stunning and dramatic revival interest in the creation and performance of Native American music in North America, especially in the U.S. Earlier in the century, spaghetti westerns immortalized poor depictions not only of Native music overall but of general Native life. Previously most academically cited works were of both anthropological and ethnomusicological interest; it appears that the mainstream has not, generally, seen Native music as a living, valued, cultural connection to previous generations of Native people. Gratefully, much of this has changed in the last 30 years, and today, there are Native people performing original music and compositions, thus maintaining a continuous living connection to the past, creating a vision for the future.

A recent addition to this legacy is the CD Still Singin', by the Thunder Bird Sisters, a vocal and instrumental group based on the Shinnecock Nation/ Territory, located on eastern Long Island. They have been active for the past 25 years, and were recently honored to have been voted as the 2000 Native American Music Award by being as Best Folk And Country Group Of The Year in a nationally broadcast from Albuquerque in November, 2000. Becky Genia, Holly Haile Davis, Tina Tarrant, and Ben Haile, all grandchildren of Chief and Mrs. Thunderbird, are singers and storytellers of the group.

Of the tracks on the CD, I found some particularly wonderful; Native Child is a sort of lullaby, a moving and gentle tribute to the wonder of children, the hope for an empowered future. “In the Spirit of Crazy Horse” sums up its gentle passion with its opening words, enduring strength and dignity, while Wounded Knee Hero tell of the drama and tragedy of loss, but also honors other Native nations as well, lauding the communal will and fortitude to go on. “Quiet Desperation” features beautiful flute playing, while mentioning sources of hope and personal serenity for the singer and listener both; it is exquisite. “We Are the Children” also has a lovely flute obbligato, a line interwoven with the voices, and speaks of being of the Seventh Generation. Likewise, “Old One, Wise One,” tells us of the strength and wonder of learning from future Ancestors, and “Eagle When She Flies” is a quiet tribute to an eagle woman, and “Song of Hope” is a statement of both beginning and belonging, depicted by: "...hopeless is never the song we sing, defeated is never the message we bring...lift up the people together, we keep hope alive."

The singing is first rate; the blend of voices is ravishing, with a luscious sound and excellent ensemble work. The instrumental playing is of a very high quality, thoughtfully arranged and sensitively executed.

With the continued renaissance of Native people and contemporary Native culture as a moving and living source, the future of Native people, music, and culture itself is guaranteed. Still Singin' by the Thunder Bird Sisters is an important contribution to modern Native people, an aural expression through music of the hopes, joys and vision of the future for all Native people.

...while living on Earth we should all live as one...

Tim Hays (Ho Chunk) was born and raised in Nebraska; he is the first Native American pianist to present solo recitals at both the Institute of American Indian Art in Santa Fe and AICH in NYC. He resides in Brooklyn.