Piapot First Nation father and daughters trio invited to perform around North America
CBC
Everet "Chase" Sayer says singing has always been a part of his life.
He says the songs he heard as a child are keeping his family history alive by carrying stories through the generations, and helping people understand their culture and language.
Now, along with his own daughters, he's carrying on the tradition of storytelling through song and dance.
"My second child … her first language was singing," Chase said. "She started to sing before she spoke."
Chase lives on Piapot First Nation with his wife, Kristen, and his daughters, Dinaye, 14, and Cree, 13.
He works as a cultural advisor at a correctional centre, performing ceremonies, drumming, running grief and loss groups, and holding talking circles with the inmates.
He was already a veteran performer before the girls came along. Notable gigs included singing at a Chicago Blackhawks game and appearing on the Netflix TV show Longmire.
Now they travel together as a family to compete at powwows, participate in round dances, and sing and dance at conferences and special events.
Kristen is also a dancer. Originally from New Mexico, she is Navajo, from the Diné Nation. She and Chase met at a powwow, so their kids have been born into the lifestyle.
She said that when her girls perform, she prefers to help behind the scenes by braiding their hair and sewing their dresses and skirts. Other family members do the beadwork for their powwow regalia.
"They are a product of their environment and you know, they now represent our home fire, our family, when they leave every morning," Chase said. "So they're expected to walk and be proud, be confident."
The confidence shows. Cree said she loves performing in front of an audience or a camera.
She said it helps her express her emotions, and it's also a lot of fun when she gets to be with her dad.
"I look at the crowd and they're smiling and laughing, and it makes me smile, because it makes me happy that I'm bringing joy to somebody else," Cree said.
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