'Our own songs'

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The young voices of Callin' Eagle are showcased on their debut CD "To All Our Relations" on the Redhouse Records label.

"The songs on the CD are all original compositions which is good because now we have our own songs," said Jared Brown, co-lead singer. "People at powwows were always asking if we had a CD. We've been thinking of doing this for a long time. We thought we weren't ready for it. Now we have a CD."

The Window Rock-based drum group consists of Malcolm Murphy, 18, Jared Brown, 17, C.J. Murphy, 16, Jacinda Begay, 19, Jordan Jones, 18, Isaac Jamal Jones, 21, Dominic Largo, 18, and two parents, Wanda Brown and Fred Murphy.

Four other local youth sing with Callin' Eagle but did not take part in recording the CD, including Karen Eaglespeaker, Samantha Murphy, Matthew Sheka Jr. and Arianne Sheka.

The idea to make a recording started during a powwow in July.

"We just brought it up and left it for the rest of the group to discuss," Jared said.

The group scraped together the money to record by holding fundraisers during the nightly Indian dances held each summer at the Gallup Civic Plaza, from host-drum jobs, and from drum contest winnings.

Several Callin' Eagle singers also compete as powwow dancers and they, too, contributed money from their contest winnings towards the project.

"To All Our Relations" was recorded live at the Central Navajo Fair in August. 

Various members contributed songs to the album, teasing each other about the source of their creativity.

"It comes from long road trips," Fred Murphy said.

"...singing in the shower," added Jared.

"...it also happens in the middle of the night," Jordan quipped, snickering at Dominic, who admitted to waking up one night and bursting into song.

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"As a drum group they travel together," said Wanda, who is Jared's mother. "They're all brothers and sisters when they are traveling together."

The CD is dedicated those who have supported the drum group throughout the years. It's available for about $15 at Cool Runnings Music Store in St. Michaels, Ariz., Ellis Tanner and Ted's Pawn Shop in Gallup, and at the Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque.

CDs will also be on sale at powwows.

"We have enough songs composed to make another CD," Fred noted.

"But we really haven't had the chance to sing them and work other songs out," Jared added. "They will probably be on the next CD."

"This is a first of a series of CDs that is to come," Wanda said. "This one is for the people. There is one we will dedicate to the veterans, elders, and the youth."

Small beginnings

Callin' Eagle got its start in 1997 at the Zuni Fair Contest Powwow with three members - Malcolm, Jared and Dominic. Since then the group has traveled throughout Indian Country hosting powwows and singing for conferences and events, including a trip to Hawaii.

The group has grown to its present size of 13 members, though individual members may come and go. Its audience includes people of all ages.

The group has been blessed with mentors to guide the young members.

"They have a lot of people that have guided them, that taught them a lot and gave them some good advice," Fred said.

"This is something we take seriously," Jared said about being role models to other youngsters on the powwow trail. "There are a lot of kids that look up to us."

Coming from Fort Defiance and Window Rock, they know the problems facing young people, but they refuse to surrender to the darkness.

"Gang violence is one issue that is a problem," Jared said. "There's too many people out there that are imitating something that they are not."

"It's pretty ridiculous," added Isaac, noting that gang violence, drugs and alcohol abuse are interconnected. The community needs to stand up, and people need to take their community back, he said.

The drum group can be a powerful force for good, and they think about that every time they set up at a powwow.

"The drum is always open to people who want to learn or want to sing," Malcolm said.

No generation gap

Callin' Eagle members don't have a problem hearing their elders' words. To the contrary, they are very open to learning from the wise, Fred said.

"They have a lot of mentors and elders that have come up to them and talk with them about different things," he noted. "That's where they learn from."

"Especially when they travel together," Wanda added.

The parents, meanwhile, plan and make arrangements so that they have a place to stay and food to eat, she said.

"We make sure that they have a good time," she added.

The rapport between generations is evident in their appreciation for each other and helps account for the group's success.

"(Our parents) really plan for us when we want to travel to powwows," Jared said. "They make it possible for us to be together."

Fred also credits the support and love from the powwow community for helping the young singers become role models beyond music.

Isaac, for instance, has developed an interest in health, particularly the high incidence of obesity and diabetes he sees around him.

He's been thinking about the reasons for it - "especially those energy drinks" - and plans to study health and nutrition at Northern Arizona University.

"I have fast food now and then but I do what I can to maintain a healthy lifestyle," Isaac said, noting that the lifestyle of a powwow dancer coincides with promoting healthy living.

While not all members of Callin' Eagle are related by blood, they are a family as it's defined in the powwow world.

"Powwows will always be there," Jared said. "We're always going to stay together because this is something that we can always come back to. We're brothers until the end."

"As long as they have their cell phones and text messages, they know where each other is at," added Fred's wife Sharon, the mother of group member Malcolm Murphy.

Callin' Eagle is a community drum group and is willing to assist any organization holding a gathering or event. Despite the youth of its members, the group also is experienced in the role of host drum.

Information: www.myspace.com/callineagle.

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