Recording Disc - "Canoe Song & Medicine Song for a Witch," Sides 7 & 8
Datec. 1940
Credit LineGift of Dr. Seaborn, 1975
Object number1975.036.012
Label TextThis disc features the Canoe Song. Thompson’s song describes landmarks that signpost the route between Lake Huron and Montreal for those travelling by waterway. It is the same route depicted in a visual format on these maps. Directional songs are ideal. They can be shared with many and are easily remembered because of the catchy tune. As well, they are durable. Imagine what would happen if your GPS or map fell into the water! In this song, Robert and Elizabeth demonstrate the balance that was a part of Anishinaabeg lives. They shared the knowledge together just as building a canoe was done through shared knowledge. Men knew how to build the canoe. Women held the knowledge of making pitch, the stuff that makes a canoe waterproof.
Robert Thompson's Anishinaabe name was “Pewakanep”, which means the essence of “purposefully coming around again.” Born around 1876 in South Bay, Manitoulin Island, his family moved to Chief’s Point in 1886. From his father, “Pana-so-ba”, or John, a 4th degree medicine man, Robert learned the traditions of his people. He was also employed at the local mill and was a fiddler at community dances. Thankfully, he freely shared his stories with any who came in search of knowledge.
Elizabeth Thompson went to Chief’s Point after her 1921 marriage to Robert. He had refused to be registered under the Indian Act and so through marriage, Elizabeth lost her membership to her community. They did retain their freedom to live as Anishinaabe without government interference. Because they did not have “Indian Status,” the Thompsons’ were legally able to record their songs and stories. They seemed to understand that the people would need access to language and culture once the cultural bans were lifted.
A London medical doctor, Edwin Seaborn was also an amateur anthropologist, ethnologist, and historian. A friend of Robert and Elizabeth Thompson, he had heard them share Anishinaabe songs and stories. Seaborn wanted to capture them for his research and so organized a recording session at Western University. For Seaborn, the recordings permitted repeat study of Anishinaabe cultural expression from a western medical perspective.
Dr. Edwin Seaborn also used lacquer-coated aluminum transcription discs to record Robert and Elizabeth Thompson’s songs and stories. Like the wax cylinders, these discs were used for both recording and playback. Invented in the late 1920s, these transcription discs were particularly important in radio from the 1920s to the 1950s.
NameRecord, Phonograph
