Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)

Subject: Obit: Willie Dunn
From: bobad
Date: 05 Aug 13 - 06:23 PM

Willie Dunn died today. Willie was a filmmaker, folk musician, playwright and politician. He was born in Montreal, of mixed Mi'kmaq and Scottish/Irish background. He often highlighted aboriginal issues in his work. The Ballad of Crowfoot is about the inhumane and unjust colonial treatment of aboriginal Canadians, as well as their taking charge of their destiny and becoming politically active. One of the first NFB films directed by an Aboriginal filmmaker, the film received several awards including a Gold Hugo for best short film at the 1969 Chicago International Film Festival.

The Ballad of Crowfoot

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: frogprince
Date: 05 Aug 13 - 08:38 PM

Sad. I saw Willy just the once, at Apple Hollow; I understood that some folks here were long-time friends with him.

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 Aug 13 - 10:25 PM

It's something to hear that song again! And to see the film again. I first heard the song and saw the film in '69 or '70 when I was spending my first year in Toronto, and I used to play the song.

Looks like a good time to relearn it. It's a song that deserves to live on.

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: Larry The Radio Guy
Date: 06 Aug 13 - 12:01 AM

I always thought of Willie Dunn as almost a legendary figure. May he rest in peace.

Thanks for posting The Ballad of Crowfoot, Bobad.

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: GUEST,Arthur Manuel
Date: 06 Aug 13 - 12:03 AM

Knew Willie all my life. I first met he in Sardis, BC at a Native Youth Conference in the late 60's. He was a real positive force int he Indigenous movement. We used always show his Crowfoot movie at youth gatherings back then. Sad to hear my dear friend and member of our struggle has passed on,. Arthur, Secwepemc, Neskonlith Indian Reserve, BC. .

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: maeve
Date: 06 Aug 13 - 07:21 AM

Sorry to read this- I had hoped to meet him.

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 06 Aug 13 - 08:42 AM

a great personal loss. going to miss him.
It was to be his birthday on Aug. 12. Now I don't know where to send his card.

"Creation never sleeps, creation never dies" The Carver

my thoughts go out to his family, Lawrence, Pamela, Maya, Liz, and Willie Jr.

maybe I'll share a few stories later on. we had some great times.

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: GUEST,Ronald Lee
Date: 06 Aug 13 - 09:48 AM

Willie was one of my lifetime friends and I remember him from Montreal . He was a great artist and a great human being. The legacy of his songs will be his gift to Canadian culture. Sleep well, old friend. We miss you.

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: meself
Date: 06 Aug 13 - 12:03 PM

Sad news. He did good work while he was here ....

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 07 Aug 13 - 11:37 AM

"The Other Side of the Ledger" is another powerful film that he did with Duke Redbird. A Native perspective of the Hudson Bay Company.
Also 'The Voice of our Land is in our Languages' which he did for the AFN. Interviewing many elders who have since passed on.

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 07 Aug 13 - 11:51 AM

I saw Willie perform a couple of times at the Mariposa Folk Festival, something like 30 years after I'd first heard the Ballad of Crowfoot. His spirit will fly high and his name will live on.

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: GUEST,Aaron Wohl
Date: 08 Aug 13 - 02:59 AM

Saw Willie perform often at The New Penelope in Montreal in the 1960`s.
Great performer,singer songwriter.Way ahead of his time.An important Canadian Icon,brought Native rights to the concience of the average Canadian.Hope the present generation gets to hear his songs and message.The song is mightier than the gun.R.I.P.Willie Dunn,Gone but never forgotten.

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 08 Aug 13 - 08:37 AM

Willie calling the crows down:

we were playing an afternoon show at stage B at the Vancouver Folk Fest. '99. Bout half way thru 'The Pacific', a Melville poem set to music, people started to laugh and this wasn't a comedy song. I noticed Willie getting agitated, started strumming harder, singing with more force. As it turned out, a big crow had landed on the tent pole right above the stage. Maybe the folks thought that this was a lead-in to 'Crowfoot'. We had a good chuckle after.

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: GUEST,9
Date: 08 Aug 13 - 09:03 AM

Rest well, buddy.

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 08 Aug 13 - 10:03 AM

funeral/memorial
Sat. Aug 10 /8.30 am
20 Beechwood Ave
Ottawa / Vanier

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 08 Aug 13 - 10:12 AM

correction
280 Beechwood Ave.

the other address is a gas station. Willie had Mohawk gas pumps on the cover of his last CD, but that would have been a stretch..

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: bobad
Date: 08 Aug 13 - 01:12 PM

DUNN, William
It is with sadness that our dear (Sweet voice) Willie passed away unexpectedly at his home on Monday, August 5, 2013 at the age of 71. Born in Montreal, Quebec, he was the son of the late William and Stella (Metallic) Dunn. He is survived by his loving partner Liz Moore; 2 sons William and Lawrence (Nina); daughter Pamela (Marvin); 3 beautiful granddaughters, Jessica, Mya and Melody; his brother John; sisters Hazel, Gloria and Linda. He was predeceased by 3 sisters, Jean, Betty, and Grace. Willie leaves behind an inspirational legacy for indigenous, grassroots and ecological causes in Canada. Willie released several albums; Willie Dunn (1971) The Pacific (1980), Metallic (1999), Son of the Sun (2004). He was inducted into the Aboriginal Walk of Honour in 2005. He directed international award winning documentaries. A singer, songwriter, playwright, director, award winning filmmaker and a First Nations ambassador for Canada - one of the Aboriginal community's true trailblazers. He will be missed by many. Friends and family are invited to visit at Beechwood, Cemetery and Funeral Services, 280 Beechwood Avenue (east of Vanier Parkway), Ottawa from 8:30 a.m. Saturday, August 10, until time of Funeral /Memorial Service in the Sacred Space at 10 a.m., www.beechwoodcemetery.com. For those who wish, flowers or memorial contributions in Willie memory to the Wabano Center for Aboriginal Health, 299 Montreal Rd., Ottawa, ON, www.Wabano.com. Willie was a proud veteran. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ottawacitizen/obituary.aspx?n=william-dunn&pid=166319038#fbLoggedOut

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 09 Aug 13 - 01:22 PM

:0(

I'm sorry, Ron. xx

Son of the Sun


Son of the sun
Son of the earth
The soul of life
Children of the world

Daughters of starlight
And daughters of mirth
Sisters of sunlight
Sisters of earth

Brothers of nature
And brothers of old,
Brothers of legend
And the story untold

I had a dream
Of my own accord
They laid to rest
The gun and the sword
Buried the hatchet
Buried the stake
Vowed to each other
Peace to make

The Earth supplies
And Nature feeds
But we turn and quake
For artificial needs

Come down to earth
And stay a while
The sun is shining
Just sit there and smile

I'm a brown-skinned man
That's what I am
Got a guitar and a drum
That's where I come from

Spirit of the sun
Spirit of the sea
Worthy of the shadow
Come shine down on me

Son of the sun
Son of the earth
Soul of life
Children of the world

Brothers of nature
Brothers of old
Brothers of the legends
And the story untold

Daughters of starlight
Daughters of earth
Sisters of sunlight
Sisters of mirth

I had a dream
Of my own accord
They laid to rest
The gun and the sword
They buried the hatchet
And buried the snake
Vowed to each other
Peace to make

Oh, Son of the Sun

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 09 Aug 13 - 01:36 PM

As mentioned by Ron, above....

'The Other Side Of The Ledger'

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: gnu
Date: 09 Aug 13 - 02:43 PM

Oh my. I missed this. My sympathies to the family, friends and fans. RIP and thanks.

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 09 Aug 13 - 05:03 PM

thanks Bob for the info. Lizzie for the words.
He was always a hard act to follow, still is. we had a special kind of mojo come showtime. My life was greatly enriched by the time we spent together, even tho sometimes I didn't recognize it when it was happening, but that's the way it goes. Maybe some more stories later.

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: bobad
Date: 09 Aug 13 - 05:06 PM

Willie's wife Liz and son Lawrence share memories of him on the CBC:Remembering Willie Dunn

Video of Willie in his younger days singing a couple of his songs: Willie on CBC's Songs of Man

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: GUEST,Kevin from Light In The Attic Records
Date: 09 Aug 13 - 09:59 PM

Hello everyone,
Many thoughtful posts in this thread! Thanks for sharing!
Was extremely sad to hear of Mr. Dunn's passing. This past April, I met w/ Willie and his family in the process of producing an archival compilation/series of late 1960s-mid-1980s aboriginal folk and rock for Seattle/LA-based Light In The Attic Records (www.lightintheattic.net). It was an honour to spend time w/ them. Please be in touch at sip rean o @ g m ail . co m (no spaces) if you have any vintage photos, articles, concert/film posters or Dunn-related artifacts you'd like to contribute to our project. We would love to hear from you.
Thinking of Willie and his family!
All the best,
Kevin
Vancouver, B.C.
Light In The Attic Records

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 10 Aug 13 - 05:29 PM

a beautiful send-off in a great setting. many friends and family members from far and wide. a powerful tribute to a great person.
fitting and healing.thanks. R.

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: GUEST,Marie-Helene
Date: 12 Aug 13 - 12:46 PM

I have not seen Willie since my childhood but I remember him as a very gentle soul. May he be embraced by the angels on his new journey.

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 14 Aug 13 - 02:15 PM

Happy Birthday Willie. You always looked forward with a child-like excitement to this day. It usually brought a group of kinfolk and friends to your backyard for a cook-out, laughter and music.

Thinking on this, I went down to a special place on the big river today
burned some homegrown sage, offered tobacco and a bottle of Chilean wine to the waters. Yes, watered down the wine. My best wishes travel to you on the elements as the sun broke through the moody clouds.
Since the words to 'Son of the Sun' were posted on this thread a few days ago, I'd like to leave it with something you wrote about that particular song.

"Son of the Sun alludes to peace, as well as to frugality. The message is that man's real enemy is largely himself, his conceit as well as his eternal pre-occupation with his ambitions.
It is a song that advocates peace in the world occasionally dominated by the cries of men, women, and children against the brutality and insensitivity of a few who will not cease activities in their silly quest for purlaine.

The world, being the world, usually does not accommodate perfection, and why on earth should it ?
The greater knowledge being, is that we are all children in the light of the greater spirit of earth and sun, and that we can achieve no more than to be worthy of our shadow."

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Dec 13 - 12:46 AM

Willie and I were classmates at Maisonneuve Elementary School in East Montreal in 1954, and very good pals back then. We hung out a lot and were always goofing with our other amigo, Geoffrey Armstrong. Willie was a hoot then, always ALWAYS something funny to say. He was VERY cool. We both invented a hip expression between us, and would always say to each other..."hey...shoobie-doobie...!"
We again reconnected on the Net around 2005 or so after 50 years and would occasionally reminisce on the phone. I have a great class photo from our school days showing a young Willie at 12 years of age. He was a good kid, kind and humorous, and in his own right, a bad-ass....was greatly respected by the other boys...NOBODY messed with Willie.
I wrote and recorded a song for Willie about his life about seven years ago, but never got around to sending it to him. I wish he could have heard it. I moved to Southern California in 1957, but never forgot my very hip pal from the mid-1950's. I always remembered him over the years, and am saddened by his loss. Love ya, man....shoobie-doobie, my brother....

Subject: RE: Obit: Willie Dunn (5 Aug 2013)
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 23 Dec 13 - 11:20 AM

' shoobie doobie ' that's funny. there's a song we recorded once at an Ottawa radio stn. called 'Hypochondriac Blues' during one of the solos he says 'shoobie doodie'. I didn't know where that came from.
It'll be on a tribute CD that I just finished mixing. available in the spring for family and friends. would love for you to have a copy. RB