Native singer Larry Hanson will release his Rez Warriors CD on Feb. 3 at the Zocalo Café in Courtenay.
Hanson, from the Homalco Band in Campbell River, says he started to write songs after beginning to rediscover his First Nations culture. Doing research for a bachelor of arts degree in history also helped, he says.
“My songs are about First Nations spirituality, loons and whales, to First Nation heroes, to a song about passing knowledge to the younger generation and others. I hope everyone will enjoy my songs and music, and I look forward to seeing you there at the Zocalo Café Feb. 3, starting at 7:30 p.m.”
Rez Warriors was produced by John Roles, who plays lead guitar, bass and drums.
The first song, Elders, is about respecting our elders and listening to the knowledge they have for everyone. Heroes is about First Nation heroes who have fought and died for their culture, lands and families.
The inspiration for All the Children developed from a Hopi story that people from the world will gather here and learn the First Nation cultures to save Mother Earth. Warrior’s Song was written about a warrior who died during a hunt or battle far away, and cannot return to his love.
Home on the Rez deals with cultural identity of First Nations’ struggles of pride to who we are on Turtle Island, which is in North America.
— Larry Hanson