How Dena Zagi’s music heals and inspires
“The number 282 was the name assigned to me at the Lower Post B.C. residential school for seven years as a little boy. The number was sewn on all my clothes.”
282 is the title of Dena Zagi’s second album, which just came out in May. Dena Zagi offers a diverse range of healing songs, strong sounds of drumming and songs in the Kaska language. The title song, “282”, is over seven minutes long.
“This album took us three years to finish with our full band. We have David Dugas on the lead guitar, Roxx Hunter on bass guitar and Michael Miller on the drum kit. All have played with us for many years and have shaped the musical style with us,” Dennis Shorty says about the band.
Behind the title of the album is the tragic story of Dennis Shorty’s childhood:
“The number 282 was the name assigned to me at the Lower Post B.C. residential school for seven years as a little boy. The number was sewn on all my clothes,” he recalls.
The number followed him through life: in 2018, he carved a sculpture of a float plane with that number. When he was a child, he was picked up by float plane in Ross River, because there was no highway yet to the residential school in Lower Post, 400 km away.
He was five years old back then. Shorty survived residential school and said in a 2018 interview with the Yukon News, that he can forgive, but will not forget.
Shorty became interested in art while watching his grandfather and father carve traditional tools and toys. Well-known for his art and carvings in the territory, Dennis and his partner, Jenny Fröhling are also established musicians. Their band Dena Zagi, means “people’s voice” in the Kaska language.
Dennis is singer, songwriter and guitarist, while Jenny is a singer, plays a traditional drum and drum set, as well as a First Nation flute. Their first album Gucho Hin was nominated in 2018 for the Indigenous Music Awards (IMA) in Winnipeg and the Canadian Folks Music Awards (CFMA) in Calgary.
“We had quite a number of new songs written and unfinished throughout the years after we released our first album Gucho Hin in 2017,” Dennis says. “Our first album was recorded with just the two of us, my partner and me at Jordy Walker’s studio.”
In 2018, they started bringing more musicians to the duo. “A full band brings a whole lot of full sound and energy,” they say.
Dennis and Jenny explain the meaning of their cover, which shows northern lights, a small drummer, and the number 282.
“The northern lights are representing our ancestors that hold us up. The smaller faded drummer in the background on the album cover represents me as a child, traumatized by how I was treated as a person at the residential school and also by losing my culture.
“But I was also holding on, which is why that smaller drummer is not completely invisible.”
There is a larger drummer on the right side of the cover.
“It is seen through the heart and camera lens of my partner Jenny and presents me today, full of colour, holding the world in my hands, climbing into the light into endless opportunities,” Dennis says.
He says his art, music and native language keep him going and alive, together with the support of his partner, Jenny.
“Even though they try to eliminate my mother tongue, I’m still a fluent speaker in the Kaska language.” Writing these songs has helped him overcome some of the trauma, he says.
Dennis and Jenny explain that with their music and songs, they want to bring uplifting energy and inspire everyone who is hurting to never give up, and to follow their dreams and their hearts. They want to show people who are struggling that there is always a way out.
“A lot of people out there are struggling with alcohol and drugs and substance abuse and domestic violence that then is passed down to their children and they are trying to find their way in life,” they say.
Not only has their second album come to life, Dennis Shorty just received the King Charles III Coronation Medal, which is a national honour for people who have demonstrated great dedication and service to their community.Shorty received the award in recognition of his contributions to Kaska culture. With their new album released, Dena Zagi will keep on being the voice of Kaska culture. They are already planning a concert for August 30 in Whitehorse. More info on: dennisshortyarts.com.
