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Episode 2 of The BEST Country Music Podcast. Ever. Out Now

By Andrew Wenn
November 4, 2021 at 11:09 AM

“The Best London Country Music Podcast. Ever” celebrates London’s long love affair with country music and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees from our region. It is inspired by London’s role as host of CCMA Country Music Week 2021 on Nov. 26-29.

The Medicine in the Music: Indigenous Country Music

The land now known as London, Ontario, is on the traditional territory of the Attawandaron, Anishnaabeg, Haudenosaunee and Lunaapeewak. The Munsee-Delaware Nation, Oneida Nation of the Thames, and Chippewas of the Thames First Nation are the First Nations communities of this area.

This episode features Indigenous people in the regional arts community and explores their relationship with music.

Gordon Nicotine-Sands is from Poundmaker Cree Nation in Saskatchewan (Treaty 6) and Bkejwanong Unceeded Territory (Walpole Island First Nation), talk about how the love of music passed through many generations of his family. Gordon, who leads the Eagle Flight Singers, talks about the pow-wow music genre and debunks misconceptions, and how cultural experiences repair the relationships between Indigenous people and settlers.

Summer Bressette, an arts educator in London, Ontario, discusses how Indigenous educators and London residents break down stereotypes through music.

Anishnaabe-Irish sisters Shawna and Dawn Redskye of the Blackwood Honeybees share how they combine tradition and modernity in their music.

Genevieve Fisher, born and raised in London who is part of the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, talks about what she loves about her culture and that she plans to share it with her son, Harrison, as he grows up.

The Medicine in the Music: Indigenous Country Music

If you enjoyed this episode of the Best London Country Music Podcast, Ever, be sure to check out more episodes on londonmusicoffice.c om and Spotify.

The podcast was made possible with research from Elisabeth Edwards, Oshi Mudiyanselage, Emily Stewart, and James Stewart Reaney. We would like to thank Brian Moon, Hector Sturgeon, Genevieve Fisher, Dawn and Shawna Redskye, Summer Bressette, and Gordon Nicotine Sands.

Special thanks to Guillermo Gucciardi and Radio Western. The Best London Country Music Podcast. Ever is grateful to the Canadian Country Music Association and 2021 London host organizing committee. Thank you to Western University’s Public History Program, Tourism London, London Music Office, Jonathan Holiff, Purple Hill Country Opry, Forest City London Music Awards and FCLMA London Music Hall of Fame, Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, Rocklands Talent and Longview Advertising, London Public Library, CBC and our wonderful team of researchers and writers. Here's to the 2021 CCMA Country Music Week.

The Best London Country Music Podcast. Ever is hosted, produced, recorded, and mastered by Zahra Habib, with additional production support from Guillermo Gucciardi. The podcast was Executive Produced by CCMA 2021 London Host Organizing Committee Legacy members Harina Mokanan and James Stewart Reaney. The podcast showcases diverse, inclusive voices and creators across the London community. The Best Country Music Podcast. Ever is a testament to the remarkable talents of our researchers, historians, editors, and radio hosts.