WARSCOUT

About the Artist

In the spring of 2003, Randall Paskemin, from the Sweetgrass First Nations Band in Saskatchewan, Canada, was making songs and wondering if he should try to make his own drum group. His own drum group would allow him to sing with his sons and they could have a group to call their own. Finally after a lot of prayers and encouragement from his family, friends and Mom and Dad, he decided to try and make a drum group. Things started to come together around the fall and winter months of that year.

Randall then began trying to think of a name for the new group, but could not come up with one that he thought would suit them. Finally, it came to him in a dream. There was a horse with a warrior on it, and although the warrior was not too clear, the horse was very clear. It was light gray and it was painted with red paint – as if it was ready and prepared for battle. The drum group is named after the horse in Randall’s dream - Warscout. They began singing in April 2004 and have since picked up more singers from various parts of Canada and the US.

The songs Warscout sings are made in the Plains Cree language, except for a few round dance songs that are sung in English.

Recordings