Medicine Dream, an Intertribal First
Nations band that performs contemporary Native American
music in a heartfelt and unique style all their own,
is based out of Anchorage, Alaska, USA.
Photo by Jonathan Stanton
Having 3 successful releases to their
credit, their first International release on Canyon
Records, Mawio'mi, received three nominations at the
Native American Music Awards (NAMA) in 2000. Their
music video In This World won the NAMA for Best Short
or Long Form Video in 2006, and was produced and co-directed
by Medicine Dream percussionist and vocalist Steven
Wounded Deer Alvarez.
Medicine Dream's second recording,
entitled Tomegan Gospem (also a Canyon release) features
a focused look into the Ktaqmkuk Mi'kmaq people of
Newfoundland, Canada. Its message conveys who their
people are from an Elder’s point of view.
Their third recording, Learning to
Fly is being released independently in 2007. The music
focuses on songs that generate hope and inspire us
to celebrate the joy of life and promises to be a
favorite of Medicine Dream fans. “Medicine Dreams’
Learning to Fly will take your breath away”.
(Music reviewer, Josh Cole, July 2007).
The group has toured extensively
throughout the United States, recently performing
for a second time at the Mississippi Band of Choctaw
Indians, the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C, in
Salem, Massachusetts for the Peabody Essex Museum’s
grand Re-opening, and they traveled to Ireland in
2001 performing for the World Peace and Prayer Day
ceremonies.
Medicine Dream contributes greatly
to the fight against drug and alcohol abuse as well
as suicide prevention, by promoting sobriety and both
physical and spiritual wellness. It is the band’s
desire to build understanding between all peoples
by communicating spiritual growth through living the
Wellness Path.
Medicine Dream is committed to promoting sobriety
and both spiritual and physical wellness.
Medicine Dream represents many nations
coming together to share the group's message as well
as to promote cultural unity. The members of the group
are as diverse culturally as they are musically, representing
the Athabascan, Apache, Aleut, Choctaw, Inupiaq, Mi’kmaq,
Yaqui, Yup’ik and European nations.
Medicine Dream's unique sound has
brought them to the forefront of the Native American
music scene. Their live performances, which may include
traditional dancers from the Living Traditions Dance
Troupe, mesmerize audiences. Their music has been
described as that which “transcends boundaries,
possessing strong vocals, thick keyboards and guitars
coupled with multi-layered rhythmic grooves. Their
music takes the listener into a realm that offers
spiritual peace without losing its tribal rock energy”.
