Ulali
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Founded in 1987, Ulali was the first Native American women's a cappella group to create their own sound from strong traditional roots and personal contemporary styles. They created a new genre of Native American music and inspired the creation of other Native women's groups.
The group includes lead singer, Pura Fé (Tuscarora) Soni (Mayan, Apache, Yaqui), and Jennifer (Tuscarora).
Known for their unusual harmonies and wide vocal and musical range, Ulali's sound encompasses an array of indigenous music including Southeast United States choral singing (pre-blues and gospel) and pre-Columbian (before the borders) music. Breaking the stereotypes of Native women, Ulali is political, romantic, and humorous. Their live performances, which uniquely address Native struggles and accomplishments, are considered energetic, informative, and educational.
Ulali has traveled extensively throughout the U.S., Canada, and abroad performing at venues like Woodstock 94, the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, the 1997 Smithsonian's Folkways 50th Anniversary Gala at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, the 1998 WOMAD Festival in Seattle, the 1998 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the 1999 World festival of Sacred Music at the Hollywood Bowl, Red Solstice 2000 in Montréal, the Britt Festival 2000 in Oregon, V Day 2001 at Madison Square Garden, the 2001 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, and a wide range of other venues, benefit performances, and festivals. They have performed abroad in Brazil, Corsica, England, France, Fiji, Germany, Italy, Japan, Morocco, New Caledonia and Portugal.
Ulali also travels throughout Indian country (U.S., Canada, Central America and South America) visiting communities, singing, and exchanging songs. They also perform at powwows and can often be heard on Native radio stations throughout the U.S. and Canada.
They were awarded the "Eagle Spirit Award" while attending the 25th Annual American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco, CA in 2000. In addition they were each one of several winners of the "Native American Women's Recognition Award" (NAWRE), presented by the Friends of Ganondagan in Rochester, NY.
The group added their distinct voice to the Indigo Girls recording Shaming of the Sun, and opened for and performed with the Indigo Girls in several cities in 1997. Ulali also contributed to the Indigo Girls benefit recording project, "Honor the Earth" and participated in the national tour of the same name.
Ulali was featured on the soundtrack of the Miramax film Smoke Signals. They performed at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival in support of Smoke Signals, which won the Audience Choice Award and Filmmaker's Trophy. Ulali recorded on the soundtrack for the Turner documentary series The Native Americans. They subsequently had two of their songs, "Mahk Jchi" and "Ancestor Song" featured on Robbie Robertson's album Music for The Native Americans. Their video "Follow Your Hearts Desire" won "Best Music Video" at The American Indian Film Institute Awards.
Ulali has appeared on National Public Radio several times and made their national television debut when they performed with Robertson as featured guests on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. After performing at the Todos un Cantos del Mundo in May 2000, Ulali was featured on the "Jô Soares Show," a nationally televised talk show in Brazil.
The group has been on several compilations that have been nominated for Juno Awards. Ulali participated in the Aboriginal Women's Voices Project and helped to develop songs for the Project recording "Hearts of the Nations." They were also featured on the Smithsonian's Folkways compilation recording "Heartbeat," and can be heard on dozens of albums, documentaries and movies. In addition, Ulali contributed the music for a recording with Lakota/Kiowa Apache Story Teller Dovie Thomason's "Lessons from the Animal People," which won the American Library Association's 1997 "Editor's Choice Award" and "Notable Recording Award." During Spring 2002, they were featured on the "One Giant Leap" recording and MTV video.
Ulali has shared the bill with Buffy Sainte-Marie, Floyd Westerman, Miriam Makeba, John Trudell, the American Indian Dance Theatre, Sting, Richie Havens, the B52s, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Mary Chapin Carpenter and the Neville Brothers.
In 2005 the group continues to evolve by including performers from a guest roster when singing as a trio. This roster includes Jennifer & Pura Fe's cousin Monique Jarvis, Ataahua Papa and Matoaka Little Eagle. A live album is scheduled for release in late 2006.
