TW2 - From the Time of Our Ancestors

“From the Time of Our Ancestors”. Much as the title suggests. Composed by lead singer Bruce Miller from the Skokomish tribe. He also shared a large part of his ancestral heritage from the Yakama nation of Washington State. 
 
Bruce directly told me, Paul Eubanks, along with one of his leading elders Vi Hilbert of Upper Skagit tribe that he felt that the Native American voice of Western Washington was greatly under-represented. Especially Southern Puget Sound. So the two of them gave me an order: go to work, Paul. I responded “OK Bruce, get practicing with your group and I will record you as TW #2, From the Time of Our Ancestors”. He did so! 
 
This album is composed entirely of song. Easy to listen to over and over. Paddle songs for canoe journey.  Women's wool spinning songs.  11 Ancestral gambling songs known as the Bone Game. Spiritual song to gain your second wind of energy. Words of graduate in the ancient Skokomish language that when translated say, “We have taken you, the listener, to our most distant memory”.
 
Artwork for the 2 disc CD by Roger Fernandes of the Lower Elwha tribe in Washington State. Approximately 2 and 1/2 hrs of music of NW Native American heritage. 
 
This truly meaningful experience is one of my life's greatest treasures, working with Bruce and his very talented singer's.  Since his passing there have been moments of jealousy and even attempts to stop my work of sharing the unmatched beauty of fine Native American leaders.  Bruce set the standard; the beauty of this album far outweighs the jealously of a small minded few.  Bruce told me clearly, “generosity, Paul.  Generosity is what I want everyone to remember and live by when I'm gone.”
 
"We have so much we couldn't give it all a way. It's that big, our teachings from our ancestors." 
- The late Bruce Miller.  My dear friend forever!