By Michelle Chung ’20, A&E Editor
In a night with culturally rich music and an honorable remembrance of the Oneida Indian Nation, members of the community gathered for
Joanne Shenandoah In Concert: “From Our Roots”
on Nov. 5. The concert featured Grammy award-winning singer Joanne Shenandoah, joined by special guests Diane Shenandoah and Devesh Chandra.
Sponsored by the Shenandoah Kirkland Initiative, Religious Studies Department, Chaplaincy, and the Victor Johnson Fund, the concert was not only a way to feature the artistic works of Joanne Shenandoah, but also to remind community members of the history behind Hamilton College’s foundation, especially as it relates to the involvement of the Oneida Nation.
Doug George-Kanentiio, an author, co-founder of the Native American Journalists Association, and husband of Joanne Shenandoah, explained the history of Hamilton prior to the start of the concert. He detailed the founding of the college as originally a way for members of the Oneida Indian Nation to learn alongside white settlers in the area, an agreement made by Chief Skenandoah and missionary Samuel Kirkland. However, the College did not fulfill this vision and what was once the Hamilton-Oneida Academy (connecting the two groups) became Hamilton College, pushing the Oneida Nation’s history and involvement to the side. Lilly Pieper ’18, co-founder of the Shenandoah Kirkland Initiative, also spoke on the importance of this history before introducing Joanne, Diane, and Leah to the stage.
As performer Joanne Shenandoah and her sister Diane are direct descendants of Chief Skenandoah, she hoped to use this concert as a way to emphasize the importance of “[educating] our community of Chief Shenanodah and the Oneidas on our founding of the college,” and remind people of this vital history. In fact, her music is very much influenced and inspired by her familial culture, especially when it comes to creating lyrics based on her family’s values or using instrumentation and musical style specific to her culture.
Having performed at venues such as the Vatican, the White House, Carnegie Hall, and at five presidential inaugurations, it was an honor to have Shenandoah return to upstate New York and perform once again for the Hamilton community. As of today, she has written 22 albums, is the winner of 14 Native American Music awards and a Grammy, and has been nominated for numerous other awards.
Joanne began the concert with her sister Diane and daughter Leah by her side. They performed a series of songs where the lyrics honored the greatness of women. “We have lots of songs in honor of women because women are considered our life-givers and they’re a blessing to us,” Shenandoah said. “In our way, we always start with songs in thanks to women and celebrating the life of women — women who sang to us, who fed us, who clothed us, who prayed for us.”
Subsequently, Leah performed two original songs with a unique raspiness and style of singing. The audience could hear a raw and emotional passion in her words, especially because she sang with no instrumentation, as she alluded to the concept of love, empowerment, and individuality.
Joanne then presented a series of songs on her own, explaining the journey of her musical career be-tween performances. She expressed that “the most amazing part of my journey is being able to affect others with my music,” and how amazing it is to witness the ways in which her music has changed people’s lives and views.
Performer Devesh Chandra was also invited to the stage where he described the historical importance of the tabla, an instrument commonly used in India that is made up of two drums (where one creates a deeper, bass-like sound and the other creates higher pitches). He illustrated his culture’s oral tradition of using the instrument as a language and form of communication by playing an intricate and fast series of patterns and rhythms — which could all be translated into a distinguishable message.
After performing a song with just Shenandoah that featured an incredible and mesmerizing solo by Chandra, Diane and Leah joined the two again to play the final song of the night: “One World.”
“I was inspired by His Holiness and how he talks about being on common ground. Irrespective of our cultures, our religions, our political beliefs,” Joanna said before beginning the piece adding, “we’re a whole human being with a voice and an opinion and you should be able to express your opinion wherever you are or to whoever you express it to, but do it in a good way, with a good mind and a good heart.” She alluded to Skenandoah envisioning that sense of freedom when building the Oneida Academy and Hamilton College years ago because of his desire to have people come together and learn how to broaden and educate their minds.
With a calming but hopeful sound, the choice to end the concert playing such a beautiful song allowed the audience to feel a sense of unity and harmony. By the end, the crowd was left singing with musicians, chanting the song’s repeated lyrics: “One world, one mind, one love we will find. On common ground, peace will be found for all on Earth.”
