Willie Dunn
Encyclopedia
Willie Dunn is a Canadian
filmmaker, folk musician, playwright and politician. Born in Quebec
, he is of mixed Mi'kmaq and Cornish/Irish background. Dunn often highlights aboriginal issues in his work.
Dunn is a singer and acoustic guitarist. He wrote a song entitled "The Ballad of Crowfoot" and directed a ten-minute National Film Board of Canada
(NFB) film of the same name in 1968. Both the song and video are about inhumane and unjust colonial treatment of aboriginal Canadians, as well as their taking charge of their destiny and becoming politically active. One of the first NFB films directed by an Aboriginal filmmaker, the film received several awards including a Gold Hugo for best short film at the 1969 Chicago International Film Festival
.
Dunn has released several full-length albums of recorded music including Willie Dunn (1971), The Pacific (1980) and Metallic (1999). Metallic, reprises material from both earlier releases. Dunn also composed the song, "Son of the Sun", which Kashtin
recorded on their second album Innu
. In 2004 Dunn released the album Son of the Sun with sixteen songs (including three live versions). His films include The Eagle Project, The Voice of the Land and Self-Government, and his music was used for the films Incident at Restigouche
, about a 1981 police raid on the Listuguj Mi'gmaq First Nation, and Okanada, about the 1990 standoff in Oka, Quebec
between police and native protesters.
A longtime member of the New Democratic Party
, Dunn defeated Mohamed Bassuny to win the party's federal nomination for Ottawa—Vanier
in the 1993 federal election
. He received 3,155 votes (6.50%), finishing fourth against Liberal incumbent Jean-Robert Gauthier
.
He participated in the Culturally Diverse First Peoples Arts Showcase tour in 1998, and the Nations in a Circle spotlight of 2002. He was inducted into the Aboriginal Walk of Honour in 2005.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
filmmaker, folk musician, playwright and politician. Born in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, he is of mixed Mi'kmaq and Cornish/Irish background. Dunn often highlights aboriginal issues in his work.
Dunn is a singer and acoustic guitarist. He wrote a song entitled "The Ballad of Crowfoot" and directed a ten-minute National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
(NFB) film of the same name in 1968. Both the song and video are about inhumane and unjust colonial treatment of aboriginal Canadians, as well as their taking charge of their destiny and becoming politically active. One of the first NFB films directed by an Aboriginal filmmaker, the film received several awards including a Gold Hugo for best short film at the 1969 Chicago International Film Festival
Chicago International Film Festival
The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America....
.
Dunn has released several full-length albums of recorded music including Willie Dunn (1971), The Pacific (1980) and Metallic (1999). Metallic, reprises material from both earlier releases. Dunn also composed the song, "Son of the Sun", which Kashtin
Kashtin
Kashtin were a Canadian folk rock duo in the 1980s and 1990s, one of the most commercially successful and famous musical groups in First Nations history....
recorded on their second album Innu
Innu (album)
Innu is the second album by Canadian folk rock band Kashtin, released in 1991. The album was certified platinum in Canada.It contains the band's biggest chart hit, "Ishkuess", as well as a cover of Willie Dunn's "Son of the Sun", the only song the band ever recorded in a language other than their...
. In 2004 Dunn released the album Son of the Sun with sixteen songs (including three live versions). His films include The Eagle Project, The Voice of the Land and Self-Government, and his music was used for the films Incident at Restigouche
Incident at Restigouche
Incident at Restigouche is a 1984 documentary film by Alanis Obomsawin, chronicling a series of two raids on the Listuguj Mi'gmaq First Nation by the Sûreté du Québec in 1981, as part of the efforts of the Quebec government to impose new restrictions on Native salmon fishermen.-Production...
, about a 1981 police raid on the Listuguj Mi'gmaq First Nation, and Okanada, about the 1990 standoff in Oka, Quebec
Oka, Quebec
-References:...
between police and native protesters.
A longtime member of the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
, Dunn defeated Mohamed Bassuny to win the party's federal nomination for Ottawa—Vanier
Ottawa—Vanier
Ottawa—Vanier is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1935...
in the 1993 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1993
The Canadian federal election of 1993 was held on October 25 of that year to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 35th Parliament of Canada. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the House at that time...
. He received 3,155 votes (6.50%), finishing fourth against Liberal incumbent Jean-Robert Gauthier
Jean-Robert Gauthier
Jean-Robert Gauthier, CM, O.Ont was a Canadian politician.A chiropractor by training, he entered politics as trustee on a local school board. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons to represent the riding of Ottawa East in the 1972 election as a Liberal Party Member of Parliament...
.
He participated in the Culturally Diverse First Peoples Arts Showcase tour in 1998, and the Nations in a Circle spotlight of 2002. He was inducted into the Aboriginal Walk of Honour in 2005.
Albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1972 | Willie Dunn |
| 1980 | The Pacific |
| 1999 | Metallic |
| 2004 | Son of the Sun |
Singles
| Year | Single | CAN Country | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | "Schooldays" | 35 | Willie Dunn |
| 1973 | "I Pity the Country" | 79 |