08/04/21 - Frances G. Charles, Vince Fontaine

In the first segment is Frances G. Charles, Tribal Chairwoman of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe in Port Angeles, Washington. She graduated in 1977 from the Port Angeles High School and she then went on to work with the Olympic National Forest Service devoting 12 years of service working with the fire crews and earning her way to one of the top crew leaders for the area. She has served as Chairwoman for 16 years. Chairwoman Charles played a vital role in the recovery of Tse-whit-zen, one of the largest archaeological recoveries in the Northwest; she took a lead role in the negotiation process for the Ancient Klallam Village on behalf of her people and their ancestors, and as a leader for her community she did a great job in upholding Klallam Cultural Values. Chairwoman Charles has been involved in the culture of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe most of her life, she is an active supporter of the annual Tribal Canoe Journey as well as the language program, Indian Education and honoring Tribal veterans, the youth and the elders of the Tribe. Tiokasin and Chairwoman Charles discuss the article, “Tribes are leading the way to remove dams and restore ecosystems,” published in YES! Magazine on July 14, 2021. Read the article here: https://bit.ly/3xhMnju

In the second segment is Vince Fontaine. Vince has deep roots from his Ojibwe heritage and the community of Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba.
For more than 25 years, Vince has been at the forefront of Indigenous music making in Canada. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the multifaceted, award-winning and visionary Fontaine literally has done it all. He is a guitarist, songwriter, music builder/producer, festival curator/organizer/artistic director, film director and entertainment business owner. He also is one of Canada’s most highly celebrated Indigenous composers. Among his most significant and well-known ventures, Vince is the founder and lead guitarist of the legendary, award-winning roots-rock band Eagle & Hawk, one of the longest-running success stories in Canadian music history. Vince’s music collective, the award-winning Indian City, which he formed in 2012, has released three albums to date with the fourth, “Code Red,” scheduled for release this coming October. More information at: http://www.risingsunproductions.ca/, http://www.eagleandhawk.com/ and http://indiancity.ca/ and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Tiokasin and Vince discuss the July 1 toppling of the Queens Victoria and Elizabeth II statues in Winnipeg and the discussions that are taking place and have accelerated across Turtle Island since the discovery in May of 215 Indigenous children’s remains on the grounds of Kamloops Residential School in British Columbia — and subsequent findings at other residential schools.

Production Credits:
Tiokasin Ghosthorse (Lakota), Host and Executive Producer
Liz Hill (Red Lake Ojibwe), Producer
Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Studio Engineer and Audio Editor, WIOX 91.3 FM, Roxbury, NY

Music Selections:
1. Song Title: Tahi Roots Mix (First Voices Radio Theme Song)
Artist: Moana and the Moa Hunters
CD: Tahi (1993)
Label: Southside Records (Australia and New Zealand)
(00:00:44)

2. Song Title: Smile
Artist: Indian City
Single: Released on July 29, 2021 (the single will be included on “Code Red,” an album to be released in October 2021)
Label: Rising Sun Productions, Inc., Winnipeg, Manitoba
(00:27:35)

3. Song Title: Fire Won’t Die
Artist: Indian City
CD: Here & Now (2017)
Label: Rising Sun Productions, Inc., Winnipeg, Manitoba
(00:50:50)

4. Song Title: American Dream
Artist: Ondara
CD: Tales of America (2018)
Label: Verve Forecast Records
(00:54:05)