Rita Joye Gray Member of TAGR Family Offi11/16/2023 ![]() ![]() Most of the people in our country see the Native viewpoint as hearing the other side of the story. Many times I received a standing ovation. Usually when I am speaking to the audience I point out the inconsistent attitude of what happened at the time, then end my speech with the Oka song. 2 I wrote the verse from a Native viewpoint, an attempt to touch my audience and their heartstrings. ![]() The reaction was the creation of the Oka poem and the Oka song (Ex. The reaction on her part was beautiful-she understood my song and as the saying goes, "She made my day."ĭuring the Oka crisis, the incidents that happened affected me tremendously. I remember I sang it with the help of a translator doing the hand signs. Most of the tunes were for special performances of some sort, such as "The Wishing Game." I created that one for a speaking engagement at the Province House for literacy. I am a shy native so the songs were put away and I sang only when I was speaking at a school or a gathering. not knowing if I picked them up as hymn songs, the roll of an incoming wave, or wind sounds. 1 From the time I was a little girl I was what you would call a hummer. I (R.J.) was a songwriter before I became a poet. The intersection of words and music in Rita's work-an aspect we find extremely fascinating (if at times difficult for transcribing)-is at the core of the repertory of songs we have participated in "making" together. Poetry and conversation mingle in ways that are artful, and also part of the way the Spirit guides and inspires the creative instinct. 1 In conversations with Rita, I gradually came to understand that poetry is her way of expressing her story and what she considers important current themes in First Nations' culture. At that time I had the opportunity to meet and chat with Rita Joe, who was known to me as a "famous" Micmac poet. This project continued field research I (G.S.) was conducting in the summer of 1992 in Eskasoni, a Micmac reserve on the Bras d'Or Lakes about 50 kilometres from Sydney on Cape Breton Island. (Initials refer to one of the authors or to Rita Joe). To facilitate the discussion, and to emphasize the dialogic aspect of this research, we shift voices in our narrative. The article is loosely structured to hear the different voices we believe bind the work together. Our intention is to not to privilege any parts of this work over others rather, it is to share our experiences and our work in the creative spirit within which it evolved. These led to a productive association among three individuals: ourselves (Kevin Alstrup and Gordon Smith) and Micmac poet Rita Joe. She was able to her hold her five-day old granddaughter, Luisa, one week before she passed.Canadian Journal for Traditional Music (1995) Words and Music by Rita Joe: Dialogic EthnomusicologyĪs often in field research, this project was born out of several coincidences. ![]() Even during her illness, she continued to be unwavering source of strength for her family, friends, and community. ![]() She was devoted to her family and friends.ĭiagnosed with advanced lung cancer in 2010, she bravely fought the disease for nearly 5 years. Rita Lee is remembered for her sweetness, warmth, unflappable optimism, off-beat sense of humor, and the way she delighted in giving bizarre knick –knacks as gifts. She was an active member of Nichols Street Church of Christ. She was the Secretary to the Superintendent of Schools for Matagorda Independent School District. Rita attended Abilene Christian University, graduating with a degree in business management. She grew up in a loving family with her sisters, Bobbi and Debbie in Ohio and California. Rita is preceded in death by her mother, Nila Louise Fraley.īorn on Novemin Columbus, Ohio to Robert and Louise Fraley. She is survived by her loving husband of 17 years, John Rawlings father, Robert Fraley stepmother, Joyce Fraley sisters Bobbi Isbell and Debbie Fraley daughters Brittany (Nicholas) Acosta and Kellye Koonce grandchildren, Lucas and Luisa Acosta stepchildren, John Rawlings Jr., Steven Rawlings, and Angela (Greg) Baker along with numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, and great-nephews and great-nieces. Rita lived a life of faith, love, compassion, generosity, and community service. Rita Lee Rawlings (nee Fraley) passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 18th at her home in Matagorda Texas surrounded by her loving family. ![]()
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