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Arvel
Bird (Southern Paiute / Me'tis)
Born
in Idaho, Arvel was raised in Utah and Arizona where he began
his 11 years of classical violin training. He attended Arizona
State University on a music scholarship, later transferring to
University of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana. There he began to compose
and improvise, learning to play bluegrass, Celtic, folk, country
and old-time music. Arvel's mix-blood heritage of Southern
Paiute and Scottish ancestry is now the inspiration for his
own unique style of music.
For
eleven years Arvel enjoyed touring with Glen Campbell, Clay Walker,
Louise Mandrell, Tom T. Hall, Ray Price, Loretta Lynn and others.
Now as a recording artist, Arvel tours internationally to a growing
legion of fans. He is undoubtedly the best-known Native American
violinist touring today. Arvel has shared the stage with other
big names in mainstream music such as the Gatlin Brothers, Shenandoah,
and Highway 101 and Native American music including R. Carlos
Nakai, Bill Miller, Robert Tree Code, Jim Boyd and Micki Free
.
This
award-winning violinist has released 10 CDs and one DVD since
2002. Four of the CDs have been nominated in several categories
for the coveted Native American Music Awards and the Indian Summer
Music Awards.
His
enthusiasm for the tradition of Native American fiddling and Native
American spirituality radiates from each note and spoken word.
In addition to his inspired violin solos, Arvel has incorporated
Native flute, rattle and chants into his already eclectic musical
experience - from classical to country and bluegrass to jazz —
making him a truly versatile and interesting performer. This versatility
shines throughout many compositions as he easily transitions from
violin to flute to fiddle.
Drawing
on his mixed heritage, Arvel uses lively Celtic fiddle tunes to
honor his Scottish ancestry, creating a truly multi-cultural experience
for all audiences. As a sought-after collaborator, Arvel has recorded
with Joseph Firecrow, Jeff Ball, and Irene Bedard and Deni, "Ananeah"
with Grammy nominees William Eaton, Mary Redhouse and Will Clipman
and an as yet unnamed collaboration with Grammy nominee and New
Age Pianist, Peter Kater.
As
a popular entertainer, Arvel also has been featured at a multitude
of top events including Gathering of Nations, Miss Indian World,
Schemitzun, Red Earth, Midway Lake Music Festival (Canada), Chasco
Fiesta and many more. Arvel Bird is signed to Singing Wolf Records.
Arvel's
music is available from Four Winds Trading Company, Drumbeat Indian
Arts, New Leaf Distribution, Borders Books & Music Cafes,
Tower Records, and other independent New Age and music stores.
Music can be purchased directly from www.singingwolfrecords.com,
www.amazon.com
and downloaded from www.itunes.com
and other online retailers.
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Southern
Paiute
My
search for my link to the Shivwit Paiute tribe began several years
ago. While the journey has been interesting, it has at times been
frustrating. No written language, the government and settlers
attempting to translate names into European spellings but with
no connection to the traditional ties.
During my
research, I discovered one critical missing piece of the puzzle.
My maternal great-grandparents both died before the 1890 census.
Great-grandfather Jack Bobby Queets died in a mining accident
at the Silver Reef Mine near St. George, Utah. Great-grandmother
Annie Tsuununk died as a result of the extremely hard domestic
helper work shortly thereafter. Their only child, ( Rhoda, was
a toddler, maybe 3 or 4 years old when they died, and with no
one in the tribe to care for her, she was quickly traded to a
white Mormon family for something more valuable . . . a horse
and buggy.
I don't judge
them, that was just their way back then.
Sadly, the
assimilation into the white Mormon culture was so complete for
Grandma Rhoda that she was afraid of the Paiutes who later came
to her house to bring her vegetables and other food for her and
the children.
Mom tells
me stories of how Grandmother Rhoda would lock the screen door
when she saw the Paiute people coming, telling all the kids to
go hide. The truth was, though, that they were never really accepted
by the white or the native communities. Mom says as 'half-breeds'
she and her siblings had to fight every kid in school just to
be left alone. It was a rough life back then.
At every
live performance, I talk about the Southern Paiutes and I am proud
of both my Native and Scottish heritages.
So, as I
continue working on my genealogy, here are some family pictures
you might enjoy of Grandmother Rhoda, aunts and uncles; mom and
dad.
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