We are proud to have folksinger extraordinaire Maria Dunn among our ALHI activists. And though we look forward to hearing all the new material in her new CD, Joyful Banner Blazing, we are excited that the song, “Waltzing with the Angels,” has been included. Maria wrote “Waltzing with the Angels” as a tribute to the Metis ironworkers responsible for doing the most dangerous work in the building of the skyscrapers that dot Edmonton’s downtown as well as the south side of the North Saskatchewan River. Many died doing that dangerous work. Maria performed the song in Winnipeg at a conference in 2019 commemorating the centennial of the Winnipeg General Strike and associated solidarity strikes in 1919. Indigenous people in the audience remarked at how moved they were by the song and by a video of ALHI’s interviews with 7 of the Metis ironworkers.
Also included in the CD is Maria’s heartfelt song “Heart in Hand,” a tribute to the meatpacking workers of Gainers who fought a 7-month strike against Peter Pocklington, the ruthless owner, to prevent rollbacks in modest wages and benefits. Maria performed the song in ALHI’s video ballad, “Packingtown.”
You can order this latest cd by Maria, who has been nominated for Junos for two of her earlier CDs (this one should also be nominated, and this time she should win!), by writing to distantwhispermusic@hotmail.com. It’s $23 to hear one of the best voices of our times with amazingly poignant stories to tell.
How Maria Dunn’s Joyful Banner Blazing pays tribute to her late aunt (Root’s Music Canada)