Day 17 - Winston Wuttunee - 2021 Canadian Fiddlers’ Advent Calendar

Day 17

Winston Wuttunee - Winnipeg, MB

Tuggerman’s Jig, Soldier’s Joy, Waltz Quadrille

Through his roles as a performer, educator, writer, and speaker, Dr. Winston Wuttunee (Red Pheasant Cree Nation, SK) uses storytelling as a method to share traditional knowledge and pride in his culture. His continued efforts to reach out to youth are truly inspirational, and he also has been successful in reaching a broader non-Indigenous audience, sharing the positive effects of Indigenous music and culture with people around the world.

A household name in the Canadian Music industry since 1973, his career highlight was performing his own composition “Museecho” at Carnegie Hall, New York, to a standing ovation.

Winston has opened for Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, appeared on national television, including Canada’s version of Sesame Street, on radio, and in films.

He has performed internationally at many festivals, including the Winnipeg Folk Festival and Festival du Voyageur, sharing the stage with Al Simmons, and Fred Penner, even crawling through the Show’s famous log.

Dr. Wuttunee’s music is both inspired and inspiring, utilizing cultural teachings and values in his songs. He once explained: “I was blessed by the Elders to heal wounds. My music is spiritually healing.”

Over the decades, Winston has been awarded for his many albums, nominated for a Juno, received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2002 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, an Indspire Award (formerly the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards) in 2013 for culture, heritage and spirituality, and in 2019, the University of Manitoba was honoured to award him a Doctor of Letters.

To me, Winston is legendary. I have looked up to him since I was a little girl and even though we are friends, I still feel star struck when I’m around him. I am extremely grateful to have Winston as part of this year’s advent calendar. I’ve always told my students over the years to listen to the seniors play. They have that feel that we all strive to achieve, making us want to get up and dance.