Akina Shirt
Encyclopedia
Akina Shirt is a singer known for her performances in the Cree language
. Currently she sings in three choirs: Victoria School's Mixed Jazz Choir, the prestigious Kokopelli Choir and the Sacred Heart Church of First People’s Choir.
" in Cree at a National Hockey League
game between the Calgary Flames
and the Vancouver Canucks
on February 3, 2007. This was the first time in Canadian history that the national anthem had been performed in an aboriginal
language at a major league sporting event. She was also interviewed on CBC Radio One
's As it Happens
the night before the game, and sang the anthem on the show as well.
Shirt also recorded a five-song CD for Alberta Education in 2006 as part of their new social studies curriculum, launched in June 2007. She has performed at the Francis Winspear Centre for Music
, Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
, the Jack Singer Concert Hall in Calgary as well as other venues.
Cree language
Cree is an Algonquian language spoken by approximately 117,000 people across Canada, from the Northwest Territories and Alberta to Labrador, making it the aboriginal language with the highest number of speakers in Canada. It is also spoken in the U.S. state of Montana...
. Currently she sings in three choirs: Victoria School's Mixed Jazz Choir, the prestigious Kokopelli Choir and the Sacred Heart Church of First People’s Choir.
Performances
Shirt gained fame by singing "O CanadaO Canada
It has been noted that the opening theme of "O Canada" bears a strong resemblance to the "Marsch der Priester" , from the opera Die Zauberflöte , composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and that Lavallée's melody was inspired by Mozart's tune...
" in Cree at a National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
game between the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
and the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
on February 3, 2007. This was the first time in Canadian history that the national anthem had been performed in an aboriginal
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
language at a major league sporting event. She was also interviewed on CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
's As it Happens
As It Happens
As It Happens is a long-running interview show on CBC Radio One in Canada. Its 40th anniversary was celebrated on-air on 18 November 2008. It has been one of the most popular and acclaimed shows on CBC Radio; it is also distributed in the United States by Public Radio International.The bulk of the...
the night before the game, and sang the anthem on the show as well.
Shirt also recorded a five-song CD for Alberta Education in 2006 as part of their new social studies curriculum, launched in June 2007. She has performed at the Francis Winspear Centre for Music
Francis Winspear Centre for Music
The Francis Winspear Centre for Music is a performing arts centre located in downtown Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Built in 1997, it is the home of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. The center is named after Dr. Francis G. Winspear, who donated $6 million to the construction of the facility - the...
, Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
The Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium is a performing arts, culture and community facility, located in Edmonton, Alberta.-General information and history:...
, the Jack Singer Concert Hall in Calgary as well as other venues.