WIKWEMIKONG—Robbie Shawana and Leslie Neshkiwe were the eighth and ninth members inducted into the Aboriginal Country Music Association Hall of Fame on Saturday night at the Wikwemikong arena. It was more of a showcase gala than an awards ceremony, and that’s fitting, as the objective is not to celebrate big stars but local musicians who have made an impact in their own communities over the years.
The first induction gala was held in January in Serpent River, and was followed by a ceremony in Wikwemikong on March 1. The plan was to have galas monthly to June but that didn’t work out. After Saturday night’s show, there will be another in North Bay next week, followed by confirmed shows in Sudbury, Whitefish and Naughton. Events are planned for Garden River and Batchewana to wrap up.
“Once we finish with all communities there’s going to be one grand finale to showcase all of the inductees at once,” said Roger Daybutch, founder of the association and organizer of Saturday night’s gala. “We haven’t exactly decided where that’s going to be yet. It all depends on where we’re getting the most support.”
Mr. Daybutch chose the first inductees to set an example. “In the communities where I knew there were musicians, I picked them for the first couple shows, and then I threw it back to the people. I gave them the idea but I don’t want to choose them all.”
Robbie Shawana was selected by the community and Mr. Daybutch hand picked Leslie. “People were coming up to me back in March,” he said, “and asking why Robbie was not inducted. I didn’t know him then, but I checked him out, went to a few shows, played with him. I realized the people were right and Robbie was definitely going to be one of the next inductees. Leslie is a big fan of Mason Dixon Line (Mr. Daybutch’s band) and she comes to a lot of our shows. We bring her up on stage to sing with us. She does a lot of work for the elders here. She plays gigs at the nursing home here in Wikwemikong for free. To me that’s real special. She also has a great traditional country voice. We’re trying to hang on to that. A lot of people don’t sing those songs anymore.”
Both musicians are self-taught. Mr. Shawana didn’t learn to play guitar until he was 19- or 20-years-old and has been playing ever since. He began his public career by playing mostly at Holy Cross church. He “threw himself out there week after week, played at wakes and funerals and weddings. I volunteered for everything,” he said.
A number of Mr. Shawana’s family members were present for this special evening. “We’re very proud of Robbie,” said cousin Dominic Beaudry. “He first started singing in karaoke bars but then he wanted to learn how to play the guitar. He also plays harmonica, a bit of banjo, the fiddle. He plays really nice spiritual music in church. He’ll learn anything.”
Mr. Shawana’s band, Robbie Shawana and the Technical Difficulties, is becoming quite popular on Manitoulin Island. They recently played at a 50th wedding anniversary, and have played the last two years at Bluegrass in the Country in support of Manitoulin Special Olympics Committee. The band plays a mixture of their own music and covers. “I’m the lead singer,” said Mr. Shawana, “but every once in a while the other guys will sing. We play country, gospel, a little bit of old rock like Creedence Clearwater Revival. It all depends on the crowd.”
Mr. Shawana is engaging on stage, following in the same laid-back storytelling footsteps as earlier inductees. “I played with those guys. They were my mentors when I started.” he said. “Being part of this association, the Hall of Fame,” he said, “it’s an honour. The guys who got inducted first, Chi-Paul, Hardy Peltier, Eugene Manitowabi, they’re amazing.”
Leslie Neshkiwe is equally engaging. She speaks softly, smiles often. She, too, is a storyteller. People relate to the songs she writes. “I wrote my first song when I was 21,” she said. “It was about my grandma and my sister. They had passed away and they meant so much to me. The second song I wrote was called ‘This Down Won’t Last Forever.’ It was about going through a hard time. Songwriting for me is like writing in a journal, it’s therapeutic. People tell me they can really relate to my songs, and that’s really cool for me.”
Ms. Neshkiwe prefers the country music she grew up listening to at her grandparents. She began singing at school concerts and first picked up a guitar at age 17 when she attended church. She played country gospel at church for a couple years before becoming involved in community open mic nights. She now sings at open mics and festivals. She has sung at the Island 100.7 FM radiothon and at Crystal Shawanda’s homecoming concerts. Her favourite place is sing is at the Wikwemikong Nursing Home.
Ms. Neshkiwe wiped tears from her eyes as she explained what the induction means to her. “They’re happy tears,” she said. “I can’t describe it. I’m honoured, truly honoured. I’m thinking, wow, how did I get here.”
She continued, “A couple weeks ago I told a friend I was being inducted into the Aboriginal Country Music Association. She said, ‘wow, you did it. You made it on your own.’ Humbly, I said ‘no, I didn’t do it on my own.’ It’s the people who were there for me. It’s the people who encouraged me and who believed in me that brought me to where I am today. It’s the amazing support that is keeping me going on this journey of music.” Ms. Neshkiwe is thankful and honoured to be where she is today. “I’d like to thank everyone for your love, friendship, encouragement and support,” she said. “Kchi miigwetch, gzaagin.”
“It’s important to celebrate our local musicians,” Mr. Daybutch explained about the premise behind the Aboriginal Country Music Association Hall of Fame. “I’ve been in the business for 40-some years now. I’ve had my ups and downs, worked for some big name acts. You know, at the end of the day, you always come home.”
“When I started to put this together,” he continued, “people were asking, ‘why not get Crystal Shawanda to showcase, to be a mentor?’ I talked to a lot of young people. To use Leslie as an example, I asked how she would feel if she were up on stage singing and Crystal Shawanda was in the front row. She would have been intimidated. We want to give these young musicians the same taste of the limelight. When we induct them into the hall of fame, we say, tonight you are the spotlight. You are king and queen for the night.”
Mr. Daybutch would eventually like to take the young talent, those who are interested, to Nashville and try to get them the support they need if they want to pursue a bigger career. The newest inductees are content to stay local. Mr. Shawana finds stars like Crystal Shawanda inspirational, but prefers to help out in his community. Ms. Neshkiwe shared that sentiment. “I like it on the Island,” she said. “This is home. I just like playing for whoever enjoys my music. I just enjoy playing. I love music.”
Mr. Daybutch himself is more of a grassroots guy, he explained. “Everybody has that dream,” he said. “I’ve been on big stages, toured with big name acts. But what I’ve liked best is singing to local people, listening to stories. We share our journey with the people when we’re here, the people can relate to that.”
Then Mr. Daybutch and his band, Mason Dixon Line, opened the show and demonstrated his own exceptional musical talent and storytelling ability to an enthusiastic audience.
