PRESENTED TO: Mr. Caines PRESENTED BY: A.J. White CLASS: GR. 12 Geography

The Whitefish Bay Singers have been through a lot of personnel changes. The only remaining singers from the original group are Andy White and his eldest son, Randy White. The drum group has been through every type of singer that has caught the attention of the Whitefish Bay Singers brass. The existing singers are the following, with their nick names: ANDY "PAH-HE" WHITE RANDY "PANDOLFO" WHITE RAMSEY "WOBBY" WHITE RYAN "RYE" WHITE A.J. "GOLDEN THROAT" WHITE JOHN "MEE-NACE" WHITE GREY FOX "WAAGOSH" WHITE TOM "TOOWASS" WHITE JR. RICK "RICKY" WHITE CHARLIE "CHAZ" KELLY CLARENCE "CHUCK" KELLY CLARENCE "BOSS MAN" KELLY FARRELL "GIIBOSHAG" MANDAMIN JAMIE "THE HAMMER" MANDAMIN HANK "SPANK" HENRY JR. "CAMPET" CAMPEAU

Most members of the Whitefish Bay Singers are unable to have the luxury of traveling to the great places of North America and witnessing the sights and sounds of where the Pow-Wows are held. Andy White works as a Senior Supervisor for a family support group, known as O.T.F.S. Randy and Ryan White are community facilitators, working for the Treaty #3 Governance Initiative Program. Rick White is an elementary teacher in St. Paul, Minnesota. The other members work elsewhere in the northwestern part of Ontario, at various work sites. The younger members of the Whitefish Bay drum group are of in college or school. Keeping each member of the drum group’s head above water has become a problem. With problems stemming from family or job related commitments. Because of this a few members of the Whitefish Bay Singers are unable to travel to the wonderful places the drum group visits. But whenever the singers can rejoice as one, it has been a real treat for the listeners at the Pow-Wows everywhere.

The Whitefish Bay Singers have practically hit all corners of North America and then some. The drum has visited such places as Whistegoosh, San Bernidino, Ca., Newfoundland, Miami, Fl. and Edmonton, Ab. Here are some of the places the Whitefish Bay Singers have ventured: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Topeka, Kansas Hartford, Connecticut Winnipeg, Manitoba Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Phoenix, Arizona Rocky Boy, Montana Bismarck, North Dakota Wichita Falls, Texas Las Vegas, Nevada The places where the Native Gatherings are held most often rake in most of the money through such things as travel, restaurants, motels, hotels and resorts. This is a great way for the tourist industry to get involved, by advertising the town or city's attractions.

The Whitefish Bay Singers have become a well-respected drum group throughout the Pow-Wow country. Also the drum group’s members have given themselves a name and are recognized when seen at the Native Gatherings. The Whitefish Bay Singers have found themselves making friends with people from all the different tribes that are found at Pow-Wows. The Whitefish Bay Singers are always giving it their best when called to compete at various competition Pow-Wows throughout Canada and the USA. In the early nineties, the biggest Pow-Wow was the Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The lowly Whitefish Bay Singers, not really all that known back then, came out of nowhere to take 1st place in the contemporary drum contest, to win it two more times in the next four years. To this date, "Whitefish Bay Singers" is a household name for the native community in North America. The Whitefish Bay Singers have taken first place at numerous gatherings, here to name a few (some are missing): Sioux Valley, Manitoba Kitchener, Ontario Albuquerque, New Mexico Hartford, Connecticut

The Whitefish Bay Singers are well known through the Pow-Wow country as a "don’t-take-things-too-seriously" drum group. They have been known to pull a few practical jokes on either fellow drum groups or friends. The drum group is known for their practical jokes, to laugh at or laugh with. Here are their famous quotes: Andy White-"Is that near the casino?" Randy White-"Manu Tabinok" Ramsey White-"Chaz, SKIIBOO" Ryan White-"Had to carry you guys on my back, again" A.J. White-"This is the life" John White-"HEHEHE" Grey Fox White-"Randy, could I be the beater" Tom White Jr.-"I don’t care" Rick White-"OR we can do this one" Charlie Kelly-"When are we going to eat" Chuck Kelly-"This is my new song" Clarence Kelly-"Zaanigoo, Randy" Farrell Mandamin-"I am going to talk to my friend" Jamie Mandamin-"Was that the ol’ man driving?" Hank Henry-"Iz zat right" Jr. Campeau-"I’ll do it anyhow"

The Native North Americans have developed a name for themselves. Most of the non-natives now see Native people constructing casinos either on or around their home communities. So on that note, the more money the casinos hand out, the more people gamble. Local hotels, motels, resorts, restaurants, taxi cab services and what-not, receive more business when a native gathering is taking place in that area. Most places where the Pow-wows are held, the rate of the rooms are decreased a few dollars when the people ask for room rates. It then is a great boon for the tourist industry in the area. The Gathering of Native people at one area is a great site. When going to a Pow-Wow, the families decide where to go, where to stay and where to eat. Nowadays it has become more of a business at competition Pow-wows. Defeats or wins at these events usually cause some of the hatred among tribes. To this date in time, all the richness in the traditions definitely has taken its toll, but after all, most tribes highly recommend their teachings to the young ones of the nations. There are many well-known dancers throughout the Pow-wow country. Each dancing category has at least three awesome dancers on the dance floor at each and every competitive Pow-wow. There are over 20 types of native dance in North America. Here are some names that are most notable around the Pow-wow circuit: Jonathan Windy Boy from Montana (Grass Dance), Puncho Brady from North Dakota (Men's Fancy),

Charmaine McKay from Saskatchewan (Women’s Northern Traditional) and Charlene Klein from Ontario (Women’s Jingle Dress). The Pow-wow trail doesn’t necessarily mean competition Pow-wows every weekend. Most members of North American tribes often need a few breaks during the warm and hard summer of traveling to either help or make a surprise visit to local traditional Pow-wows. The Whitefish Bay Singers are always keeping in mind the traditional ways of the Anishinabe, staying home on weekends, hitting very few competition Pow-wows and joining the local traditional Pow-wow scene.

BIBLIOGRAPHY White, R.T. Interview with member of the Whitefish Bay Singers. Whitefish Bay, Ontario. October 12, 1998. (Source: Greg & Rick’s homepage (online) (1998) Available: https://members.tripod.com/~GregQ/disocvery3_index.html) White, E.A., Interview, Well-Known Elder throughout Pow-wow country, Whitefish Bay, Ontario, 12 October 1998.