Little Big Band Talks Respect, Honor, and Action
Meet Gene Tagaban, storyteller, musician, motivational speaker, life trainer, and the emcee for a wonderful event tonight presented by The Burke Museum called Tribute to the Spirit: Little Big Band. The event, which features representatives from seven different First Nations on one stage, is "an unprecedented gathering of Native American performers." Tagaban is a member of the music collective Little Big Band, a group created by bassist and glass artist Preston Singletary. The band includes eight artists who play a blend of funk, soul, jazz, blues, and rock, and Tagaban says he brings “much of the traditional aspects of the bands performance with storytelling, Native American flute, drumming, singing, and dance.” Read on after the jump for our interview.
When Seattlest got in touch with Tagaban on Wednesday, he was fresh from the recording studio.
Tagaban: I’m recording a CD of Native American Flute music, my goal is to have it available for Christmas.
With the event coming soon, what are you working on now to prepare for it?
LBB has been rehearsing the last couple weeks. Star Nayea the lead singer has a couple new songs that are in the works for this Friday. Along with myself, James Luna, Preston Singletary of the Tlingit Nation, Swil Kanim, a classical violinist of the Lummi Nation, Nicholas Galanin of the Tlingit/Aleut nations, and Philip Charette of the Yupik nation will be performing as well.
The Tribute to the Spirit: Little Big Band concert commemorates the end of the 100th anniversary year of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. Along with the A-Y-P symposium tomorrow, it complements The Burke Museum’s A-Y-P: Indigenous Voices Reply exhibit. One hundred years ago, Northwest natives were exploited and used for entertainment at the world’s fair. The exhibit, set along side 1909 objects and photographs, "explore[s] how the representation and understanding of indigenous people and cultures has changed or not changed over 100 years." Tonight’s event continues the exhibit’s responses and features many of the exhibit’s artists.
How would you describe your response and the responses of some of the other performers?
I’d just like to say we’ve come a long way, yet we have much more to learn about respect and honor not just for Native people but for all People. I hope those who attend the event Friday night will walk out with the feeling that we are all in this together.
What motivated you to become a motivational speaker?
Awesome parents, grandparents, family and teachers. They loved and Honored me which allowed me to love and Honor myself. I was given a gift to teach, it’s my responsibility to share this gift in a world where so many are suffering, especially the children. If we really want to see change in the world we need to be the change. Share the Love, Spirit and Honor.
You seem to be a tremendously busy man. What do you have in store for 2010, whether for yourself or any other collaborative efforts?
Keep an eye out for each of the artists involved with the event Friday. We all have projects in the works in our own way. What I enjoy about these individuals is that they are taking action. Instead of complaining and talking they are doing. Come and share the experience, and walk out experienced.
