National Indigenous Peoples Day

SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2021 30 | NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY Your work is essential and appreciated Miigwetch, Ekosi, Masi Cho, Thank You We recognize all Indigenous HR Professionals who work hard every day holding communities together in these difficult times Legacy Bowes is honoured to work with and is committed to learning from Indigenous clients across Canada on how best to share our responsibility in reconciliation and offer support as they continue enhancing community capacity legacybowes.com Today, Sumner's music remains grounded in stories expressed through diverse genres, including country, hip- hop, rap, poetry and traditional tunes. "I think music is just a modernization of the storytelling that kept people entertained through long winters throughout history," he said. "I don't know where it comes from — I just know I have it." In March, Sumner released his third album, Thunderbird, on his daughter's first birthday. He recorded the album in late 2019 and planned to release it in 2020, but then the pandemic hit. "I was tired of sitting on it because I felt artistically a little bit stagnant. But I can't really do anything with the album in the pandemic. Once you have a release, typically you'd be able to tour it and play gigs. You'd figure out a set and bring it to life on stage," he said. "But with COVID, there's just no way to do it. It's a bit like pouring a cup of water into the ocean." His much-loved late mother inspired the title of the album, which also acted as a conduit for Sumner's grief. Her spirit name is Othawii Pinaythee, meaning brown/yellow thunderbird in Anishinaabe/Saulteaux dialect. Through his own personal experience, Sumner recognizes the healing potential in music — for both the performer and the listener. "Music can help people get through difficult times. I think that's where my gift is — being able to allow the music to do its work," he said. "It makes me feel good to perform music for people that want to hear these stories." The stories in his songs have the ability to touch listeners' souls on many subjects, ranging from love and family to residential schools and colonization. "It's important to remember our history," he said. "Since 2013 when I released my first album, I have been speaking about these issues. The musicians before me spoke about them as well. It's nothing new." When people ask Sumner what steps they can take to help heal our world, he points them towards the calls to action from both the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. "I would suggest people go and look through those documents," he said. "On another level, you can also just be good to other people because we don't know what they're going through. Sometimes we don't give those things enough credit, but even smiling or saying hi can go a long way." ❚ > continued from page 28 – Leonard Sumner, singer/songwriter MUSIC CAN HELP PEOPLE GET THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES. " "

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