music I by S o n n e t Force Wayne Lavallee's Green Dress Defines First Nations Contemporary Music It was standing Club in room only at the Media m e a n i n g of h o m e . A n d then there w a s Vancouver. Wayne Lavallee Savanna. If you have ever smelled b e g a n t o sing. I w a s immediately struck by t h e u n u s u a l quality of his voice, s w e e t g r a s s o n a w a r m s u m m e r day, y o u w i l l k n o w w h a t I m e a n . T h e richness of this s o n g made it a l m o s t tangible; I raspy--an sounds Listening with earthy mix of contemporary and traditional chanting. moving closed m y eyes a n d d a n c e d across the prairies, favourite flamenco song style. be But my t o t h e lyrics and t h e r h y t h m s , I f e l t as if I w a s His music touched a had to Powwow remembering. Honey. Here W a y n e seemed to touch place w i t h i n m e o f e m o t i o n , of heart, of spirit...something mystic. on the juxtaposition of old and new " N D N " ways-of-being, using h u m o u r to bring some levity t o w h a t otherwise H e a r i n g t h e t i t l e s o n g , I f o u n d it e a s y t o love t h a t " I n d i a n girl w i t h t h e g r e e n dress o n , " back in a t i m e o f i n n o c e n c e that adults yearn for but only children understand. reminded c o u l d be c o n s i d e r e d serious issues. O r maybe it w a s t h e p a r t a b o u t getting "your B a n n o c k butt into t h e c a r " that I found so appealing. Heartland, in Cree, is t h e It w a s a n h o n o u r b e i n g a t t h e M e d i a C l u b t o w i t n e s s t h e C D release o f W a y n e m e that language heart of culture a n d p e r h a p s t h e truest 14 May I June