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Martin Neil

Tahltan country

By First NationsNo Comments

DSC03383So where is Tahltan country, I hear you ask? Its in a remote and beautiful part of northern BC with the north/western border running parallel to the Alaskan/Canadian border, including part of Yukon Territory. The south/eastern border includes the upper Nass tributaries and western half of the Stikine plateau, including the sacred headwaters of the Stikine, Nass and Skeena rivers.

Day 1We traveled up from Vancouver, a team representing many different nations, a trailer full of supplies and gifts of food and utilities for the First Nations communities we were going to meet In a car convoy, it took over 18 hours to get to our first stop – Stikine Canyon about 30 mins from Dease Lake BC!

11. June 2016
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Heading North!

By First NationsNo Comments

IMG_0065We are enjoying a fish supper at the mouth of the Fraser river in Vancouver – tomorrow we head north as we have been invited on a trip to Northern British Columbia, Yukon and Alaska by Grand Chief Lynda Prince of the Carrier Sekai Nation. Our first stop is at a music festival with the Tahltan people where we will be recording 120 First Nations drums!

6. June 2016
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( Music ) is a means of union among people, indispensable for the life & progress towards well-being of individuals and of humanity.

Tolstoy
27. May 2016
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Speaking in Tongues

By My StoriesNo Comments

This morning I was stopped in my tracks by this powerful piece of art in Chichester Cathedral from Paul Benney called ‘Speaking in Tongues.’ He has ‘”depicted the apostles as people who are known to him – friends and contemporaries. ……………… from different ethnicities and religious backgrounds together, as they collectively experience a profound spiritual awakening.” Read More

29. March 2016
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At the risk of sounding hopelessly romantic, love is the key element. I really love to play with different musicians who come from different cultural backgrounds

John McLaughlin
26. March 2016
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Tanzania relief – second truck arrives.

By TanzaniaNo Comments

A wonderful Easter present as more maize arrives for the village of Mnase. Due to the continued famine the prices for a sack of maize was still very high but Seth managed to negotiate for 124 sacks. He says “When the big truck of maize slowly entered the village, I could hear shouting all over the place. Martin, it was a very big surprise for all the villagers.”  So thankful to all those who helped make this happen.

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25. March 2016
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I can't hear what you are saying because what you are doing is speaking so loudly to me.

First Nations proverb
26. February 2016
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Recording Pueblo (Native American) chanting

By First NationsNo Comments

A wonderful couple of days recording drums and chanting with Carol Kiger-Rice and Joseph and Martha Manzo. Joseph is from the Pueblo people and Martha is Inuit. We were @ Lower Warehouse studios thanks to my good friend Joel DeWitt who was engineering.

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Every recording situation comes with it’s own unique struggles and this time it was discovering how to capture this beautiful drum without some natural squeaks and booms – always a creative process, I learn something new with every experience!

7. February 2016
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Music4Change

By Music that inspiresNo Comments

iExplore (1)Great to hang out with David and Leslie Gereghty from Recreational Music Center. They have pioneered an incredible non-profit school that encourages music learning and performance in the San Diego area. They have also started an initiative called Music4Change which, in their words, “brings quality music programming, free of charge, to individuals and groups who might not otherwise have the opportunity to play an instrument or experience live music performances.” Please support this amazing couple and if you are in the area check them out @ Liberty Station.

Music4Change™ is committed to empowering the community through music education, cultural enrichment, and social service.

5. February 2016
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Tanzania relief news

By TanzaniaNo Comments

So thankful to all our friends out in cyber world. The first truck load of maize is heading to the village of Mnase in the next couple of days. Sadly news from the area is not good and people are dying in some of the villages around Mnase. So lets keep telling the story and dream that we can help more villages in the area.

Seth writes :- “Two hours after sending you email tonight,The local radio reported that several People died at the Villages nar Mnase, Mlebe, Chahnumba and Kikombo, the Villages you know and visited. The problem is worse, and seem will take Very long Time before People having harvest, PLEASE What I ask on behalf of this Dying Communities, if you may have, some people you know from any other part of the World please Ask some food support”.

13. January 2016
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