Jerry Alfred
Jerry Alfred is a Northern Tutchone musician who hails from Pelly Crossing, Yukon. A member of the Crow Clan of the Selkirk First Nation and the hereditary “Keeper of the Songs,” Alfred has played a vital role in safeguarding ceremonial songs and Northern Tutchone musical knowledge.
Alfred’s musical journey began as a child, hearing his father perform their traditional music. He was soon given his own instruments and sang in the choir at residential school; however, his musical development accelerated in his late teens when he re-discovered the guitar and found the work of Bob Dylan. It was during this period that Alfred’s father advised him to sing in their language and preserve their Northern Tutchone musical heritage.
In the 1980s and 90s, Alfred played a significant role in negotiations with the Government of Canada over the Selkirk people’s Land Claim, which resulted in an agreement in 1995. Just prior to the agreement, and to honour his father’s final wish, Alfred acknowledged his hereditary role as “Song Keeper,” setting him on a personal and professional course to preserve the language and culture of his people.
In 1994, Alfred produced his first recording, Etsi Shon (Grandfather Song). He released two more albums with his band, The Medicine Beat, receiving a JUNO Award in 1996 for Best Music for Aboriginal Canada Recording. In 2010, Alfred released his 4th and final recording, Ezhun.
Today, Alfred continues to teach ancestral songs to the next generation, ensuring the continuity of his language and culture.
Click here for a text transcription.
Speak Up! is curated by David McLeod (member of the Pine Creek First Nation, MB), Indigenous programming consultant.