Jerry Alfred
Encyclopedia
Jerry Alfred is a Northern Tutchone
musician living in Pelly Crossing
, Yukon
. He was named "Keeper of the Songs" at birth, an honorary title which he has made into a career, updating traditional Tutchone music by adding twentieth century Western influences.
Alfred was born in the community of Mayo, Yukon
in September 1955 into traditional life and speaking the Northern Tutchone
language, a skill which he kept alive in spite of having been sent to residential English speaking schools at the age of five. Alfred was born into the Crow Clan and inherited the title of "Keeper of the Songs" from his father. This position gave him the responsibility of collecting traditional songs and performing at ceremonial events of his people, the Selkirk First Nation
. Alfred's position also involved his representing the clan at potlatch
es, or meetings with the broader Yukon Aboriginal community.
Alfred's musical training began when he was placed in a choir while at the residential schools. His parents bought him his first guitar when he was seven, and he began learning in earnest in his teens, probably due to the influence of Bob Dylan
, an influence which still lives in Alfred's music today. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Alfred played a large role in negotiations with the Canadian
government over the Selkirk people's Land Claim
, which culminated in an agreement in 1995. In 1995, he won the Juno Award
for Aboriginal Recording of the Year.
In 1994, Alfred's father made a special effort to engage Alfred in his people's songs again, and when his father died, Alfred was inspired to release a record, 1994's "Etsi Shon", or "Grandfather Song", which served the dual purpose of keeping alive the music and the language of the Selkirk people. Alfred has since released two other albums, "Nendaa" (Go Back) in 1996, and Kehlonn in 1998, with his band, Medicine Beat.
Today, Alfred hopes to pass the position of Song Keeper to his eldest daughter, Cenjeya ("Cute one"), who along with his youngest daughter, Saanuwa ("precious one"), he is teaching the traditions and music.
Northern Tutchone
The Northern Tutchone are a First Nations people living mainly in the central Yukon in Canada. The Northern Tutchone language, originally spoken by the Northern Tutchone people, is a variety of the Tutchone language, part of the Athabaskan language family...
musician living in Pelly Crossing
Pelly Crossing, Yukon
Pelly Crossing is community in the Yukon, Canada. It lies where the Klondike Highway crosses the Pelly River. Population in 2008 was 291.It is the home of the Selkirk First Nation, and home to the Northern Tutchone culture. Cultural displays and artifacts are housed in a replica of Big Jonathan House...
, Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
. He was named "Keeper of the Songs" at birth, an honorary title which he has made into a career, updating traditional Tutchone music by adding twentieth century Western influences.
Alfred was born in the community of Mayo, Yukon
Mayo, Yukon
Mayo is a village in the Yukon, Canada, along the Silver Trail and the Stewart River. The population was 248 in 2006. It is also the home of the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun, whose primary language is Northern Tutchone. Nacho Nyak Dun translates into "big river people". It is serviced by Mayo...
in September 1955 into traditional life and speaking the Northern Tutchone
Northern Tutchone
The Northern Tutchone are a First Nations people living mainly in the central Yukon in Canada. The Northern Tutchone language, originally spoken by the Northern Tutchone people, is a variety of the Tutchone language, part of the Athabaskan language family...
language, a skill which he kept alive in spite of having been sent to residential English speaking schools at the age of five. Alfred was born into the Crow Clan and inherited the title of "Keeper of the Songs" from his father. This position gave him the responsibility of collecting traditional songs and performing at ceremonial events of his people, the Selkirk First Nation
Selkirk First Nation
The Selkirk First Nation is a First Nation in the central Yukon Territory in Canada. Its original population centre was the trading post of Selkirk, Yukon along the Yukon River, but most of its citizens now live in Pelly Crossing, Yukon where the Klondike Highway crosses the Pelly River. The...
. Alfred's position also involved his representing the clan at potlatch
Potlatch
A potlatch is a gift-giving festival and primary economic system practiced by indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of Canada and United States. This includes Heiltsuk Nation, Haida, Nuxalk, Tlingit, Makah, Tsimshian, Nuu-chah-nulth, Kwakwaka'wakw, and Coast Salish cultures...
es, or meetings with the broader Yukon Aboriginal community.
Alfred's musical training began when he was placed in a choir while at the residential schools. His parents bought him his first guitar when he was seven, and he began learning in earnest in his teens, probably due to the influence of Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, an influence which still lives in Alfred's music today. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Alfred played a large role in negotiations with the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
government over the Selkirk people's Land Claim
Yukon Land Claims
The Yukon Land Claims refer to the process of negotiating and settling aboriginal land claims agreements in Yukon, Canada.-History:Unlike other parts of Canada, Yukon First Nations did not conclude any treaties until the 1990s, despite Chief Jim Boss of the Ta'an Kwach'an requesting compensation...
, which culminated in an agreement in 1995. In 1995, he won the Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
for Aboriginal Recording of the Year.
In 1994, Alfred's father made a special effort to engage Alfred in his people's songs again, and when his father died, Alfred was inspired to release a record, 1994's "Etsi Shon", or "Grandfather Song", which served the dual purpose of keeping alive the music and the language of the Selkirk people. Alfred has since released two other albums, "Nendaa" (Go Back) in 1996, and Kehlonn in 1998, with his band, Medicine Beat.
Today, Alfred hopes to pass the position of Song Keeper to his eldest daughter, Cenjeya ("Cute one"), who along with his youngest daughter, Saanuwa ("precious one"), he is teaching the traditions and music.