NATIVE RANGE
A Song to Uplift Our Indigenous Brothers and Sisters
OVERVIEW
My name is Rick Beneteau and I’ve been a songwriter, with some acclaim, since the 70’s. I was also the co-founder (2006) of a humanitarian non-profit that was publicly endorsed by many high-profile world-changers. Today, although somewhat related to the above two careers I’ve enjoyed, I have a different project for you to consider involving, perhaps even immersing yourself in. Let me start to explain…
The moment I heard about the unmarked graves on the residential school property in British Columbia in late 2021, I was shocked. I was horrified and mostly, I was ashamed that I was unaware of this history AND that I live my life on the very ground in Essex County that once was home to the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations, comprised of the Ojibway, Odawa and Potawatomie Peoples. It wasn’t long before I started writing the lyric, Native Range.
My opening lines…
“Who am I to write a song
To your peoples, won’t right the wrongs…”
I held on to my first version reticent to approach a music writer/producer/record company simply because, well, ‘who am I to write such a song?’ I even approached a rather famous First Nations actor asking for his permission to send the lyric and offer his opinion. Although it represented my honest feelings, I wanted to have his opinion as to whether I was truly honouring those I was writing about. He agreed but never responded when I sent the lyric.
I then started researching about what ultimately deepened my disgust of the crimes my beloved Canada committed to annihilate the true owners of this land. This now famous statement in Parliament in 1885 from our first Prime Minister shook me to the core:
“The executions of the Indians ought to convince the Red Man that the White Man governs.”
– Sir John A. MacDonald
Certainly not what I was taught in school! And American history is no different.
Months later I became comfortable with Native Range as my deeply honest feelings about the horrors my country perpetrated upon our indigenous peoples. I present that here to you with the hope you will resonate with….
THE MISSION
The mission of the Native Range campaign is twofold. First, to engage two influential recording artists, ultimately but not necessarily a Canada and an American, perhaps a male and a female, to write the music for and record a duet of Native Range. Then, and hopefully with the full participation of their respective labels, release the single.
Secondly, we would attach ourselves to either:
1. an international organization advocating for indigenous rights such as: https://www.iwgia.org/en/ , or
2. a Canadian and an American organization advocating for indigenous rights
We would donate the proceeds from publishing – preferably all – for a certain period of time, preferably for all time. The single release campaign will promote true indigenous history and that their purchase of Native Range will positively impact the lives of those who are still affected by our ancestors genocidal actions.
If you are a songwriting recording artist or songwriting producer or record company that can effect this project please…