Stony Pow-Wow Songs

Eden Valley Pow-Wow Club

Canyon Records
Singers: Don Rider, Leader, Jack Crawler, Dora Crawler, Jacqueline Rider, Didrienne Rider, Lorinda Rider, Bruce Beaver

The Eden Valley Pow-Wow Club has been interested in the re-awakening of the Indian way of life. The one immediate way of dealing with this it to set up a dance troupe – dancers, singers, and drummers. Out of this formation the dance group has been able to appear at many pow-wows and celebrations in the United Sates and throughout Candada. They also did a one week show at the World Fair in Spokane, 1974.

One of the club's special accomplishments has been to develop girl singers and drummers, and to develop the tone of the girls' voices in a way that enables them to sing in the men's style.

In Canadian literature, and to most people it is not generally known that the Stony people came from the Assiniboines at upwards of 12,000 souls, perhaps more. The Jesuits spoke of them as exceptionally strong in character, as well as physically and mentally strong; adventuresome, wide ranging, and unusually adaptable.

Foreign invasion and foreign diseases reduced the Assiniboine Nation. The Europeans pushed forward with their settlements onto the prairies. The Assiniboine, unable to continue their old life, submitted to confinement on various reserves. The southern branch found a retreat at Fort Belknap, in Montana; the northern branch, commonly known today as Stonies, settled on small reserves in Saskatchewan and Alberta; the larger number of Stonies went to Morley which is between Calgary and Banff. In several generations differences developed in dialect and customs between the two branches of the Assiniboine. These differences can be attributed to the close relationship of the Stonies and the Crees.

Today, the Stonies are sometimes referred to as Cree. Yet, the Stonies speak the Siouan Dialect of their two tribes are very much alike in many ways, but they still speak entirely different languages.

The Stony Reserve is located near Morley, Alberta, Canada. Eden Valley is part of the Stony Reserve, but has its own area approximately 60 miles southeast of the Morley Reserve on the Highwood River. Eden Vally area measures one and a half by six miles.

It is said that the Stonies were responsible for bringing the Blackfoot, Bloods, Piegan, and Sarcees together for settlement in the signing of Treaty Number 7. There was a strong possibility of fighting prior to the gradual disappearance of their basic food, the buffalo.

Conflict was avoided by the words of a man of strength, who was also respected for his wisdom. He spoke:
"You could win a victory today, but you would suffer for it later. You and your children would be hungry and homeless. Control your anger and try to live in peace with these palefaces . . ."
Bearspaw was accepting reservation living; there was no alternative.

The different chiefs were given their choice as to where they wanted their reserves located. Bearspaw chose a place near the mountains, where the Bow River flowed through the foothills. The advantage was in access to both mountains and plains. The foothills location gave a right-a-way for hunting the ever dwindling number of buffalo. The mountains provided a place to hunt bighorn sheep, bear, deer, and elk. The Bow River would supply the other necessity of life, water. This place which was to become the Stony Reserve had little to offer toward agricultural endeavors, except for grazing.

Stonies have traveled a long way in time. Yet they have never given up their traditions of song, history or language.

Play song

Name

Performed by

Description

Native Words

Translation

Notes

Slow War Dance (Grand Entry) Stony
War Dance 1 Stoney
War Dance 2 Stony
Fast Shake Dance Made by Eden Valley Stony
War Dance 3 Stony
War Dance 4 Made by Eden Valley Stony
War Dance 5 Stony
Stoney Traditional Combination Song Men's War Dance and Women's Owl Dance (made by Eden Valley) Stony
War Dance 6 Stony
Mens Fancy Dance made by Eden Valley Stony
War Dance 7 Stony