K'odi Nelson

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Kwakwaka'wakw from British Columbia, Canada


Join us as we travel the distant and fascinating lands of Indian Country. This download was originally aired nationally as a public radio program titled Oyate Ta Olowan--The Songs of the People during the 90s. Each Oyate download includes the 30 minute program plus the full length songs featured during the program.


See the longer description below to hear a short clip of this show and to read for a full account of our journey to meet K'odi.


Oyate Ta Olowan was produced by Milt and Jamie Lee with funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the National Endowment for the Arts. The series was aired nationally by Public Radio International.

K'odi Nelson
Kwakwaka’wakw from Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada

Of the first 26 shows in the Oyate series, this one holds perhaps two distinguishing marks--one for “youngest artist” and the other for “most remote”. K’odi Nelson, in his early twenties, lives on Cormorant Island in a village called Alert Bay. To reach the village, a person must ferry over to Vancouver Island, travel 300 miles or so, get on a ferryboat, and cross over to Cormorant. However, the countryside, every precious inch of it, is gorgeous.

K’odi teaches culture and music at the lovely elementary school on the island. We met him there and watched him play for the children. He was good with them and the children gave serious attention to performing every move precisely and accurately. One small girl danced so beautifully we thought she surely must be hosting the spirit of a wise old woman. One of the teachers asked us if we had “noticed” her. The teacher said she has danced like that since she could walk. It was stunning.

Return to Oyate Main Page
Listen to a short sample here.