A Tribe Called Red, a Juno award-winning duo known for combining Indigenous music with electronic beats, ended their latest tour on June 1 in Ottawa.
After visiting and performing in Indigenous communities in Manitoba, Quebec, and Ontario, they concluded the Rez Tour 2018 in the city where they got their start a decade ago.
The performance was also as a part of an event promoted by the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival to kick off National Indigenous History Month.
It took place at Aboriginal Experiences, an educational site on Victoria Island, which is located on the Ottawa River near Chaudière Falls. According to Trina Simard, the executive director of Aboriginal Experiences, the island has been a sacred gathering place for thousands of years.
“It’s got a really significant history for all of the Indigenous nations,” she said. “Whenever our community needs to come together and look for a spiritual place to be in the city, it’s Victoria Island.”
The venue itself was special to A Tribe Called Red. In an interview with the Charlatan, DJ Bear Witness said that he had been hoping to play there for a long time.
“It’s an important spot to have be visible . . . Just being visible here in the city as Indigenous people—that’s such an important thing,” he said.
This is the second time that A Tribe Called Red has done a tour in Indigenous communities. On each stop, the group would offer workshops and perform a free show. According to Bear Witness, this tour is mostly about serving and giving back to these communities.
“We have gained a lot through using our culture and our music, so we’re constantly thinking of ways to give back to our community,” Bear Witness said. “We learned so much on this tour in each community that we went to.”
The evening began with a greeting and prayer. The first artist was David Whitedeer, who performed a mix of traditional and original hand drum songs. That was followed by a powerful performance by Ottawa rapper LB.
The evening was emceed by Jah’kota, another local rapper who led the crowd in a moment of silence for murdered and missing Indigenous women, and performed his music of Indigenous resilience.
Algonquin elder Annie Smith St-Georges and Métis elder Robert St-Georges were also present for the event, delivering a brief welcoming address and firing up the crowd.
Just as the sun began to set, A Tribe Called Red began their show. Playing non-stop beats and music for over an hour, the group was occasionally joined on stage by Lunacee and Creeasian, a pair of dancers who performed traditional Indigenous dance styles as well as modern break-dancing.
The show concluded with the pair of dancers welcoming a group of kids on stage to dance to “R.E.D.,” one of A Tribe Called Red’s biggest hits.
Simard, who has been a fan of A Tribe Called Red since their beginning, was especially happy with how the event turned out.
“We’re just happy it worked out and we’re able to incorporate it in our program and make the show happen,” she said.
A Tribe Called Red is set to play more shows around the world throughout the rest of the year, including a show at the National Arts Centre on Nov. 22.
They also plan to work on new music in the coming months, aiming to release a single by the end of summer.
