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Scar On My Heart: Teagan Littlechief's Affecting Anthem

Although she will sing 'O Canada' for thousands at the Saskatchewan Roughriders July 1st game in Regina's new Mosiac Stadium and this winter, performed the U.S.
Teagan Littlechief

            Although she will sing 'O Canada' for thousands at the Saskatchewan Roughriders July 1st game in Regina's new Mosiac Stadium and this winter, performed the U.S. national anthem perfectly before the final playoff game between the Regina Pats and the Seattle Thunderbirds, Teagan Littlechief says her latest single, 'Scar On My Heart' holds a special place in her heart – and she hopes in the hearts of her listeners.

            “ David Joseph - who wrote 'Scar On My Heart' is a songwriter from Kitchener, Ontario,” says Littlechief. “ I met him during Canadian Country Music Week in London, Ontario in 2016. I asked him if he had any material and when I checked out his work, I kept going back to 'Scar.'”

            “Musically, it's got kind of a Faith Hill/Martina McBride vibe, but really, what affected me most was the song's lyrics,” she says. “I wasn't the only artist who wanted to record 'Scar On My Heart' but I was able to convince David what I could do with it and I got the song!”

            “It's one of those very special songs and it's going to be entered in the Indigenous Music Awards in 2018 as well as the Saskatchewan Country Music Awards and the Canadian Country Music Awards, also in 2018.”

            “But really, it's such a special song that strikes a chord in everybody,” adds Littlechief. “David's daughter was in the hospital and that experience - and the people he met there - inspired him to write the song.”

            “When I recorded it, I had gone through the loss of my dad, Russell Standingready. So a lot of it's because of my daddy. I was also thinking of the missing and murdered Indigenous women and children in this country. When I talked to David about the song, we came to the conclusion that everybody has a scar on their heart; everybody's been through something. But at the end of the day, there's a new sunrise, too.”

            Singer Littlechief and songwriter Joseph embarked on a radio tour in Ontario in support of the song and the road trip proved her point.

            “When 'Scar On My heart' came out, it was literally a last minute decision by Debbie Wood - my publicist in Toronto - to have us visit radio stations throughout southern Ontario in support of the song and we found that it touched a pretty universal feeling in everyone we talked to,” says Littlechief.

            “It's a really touching song and one that I'm proud and honoured to be able to sing to people.”

            Littlechief has recently been honoured in the sporting world, too, singing the Canadian anthem periodically throughout this year's Regina Pats hockey team's record-breaking season and being asked   to sing the American anthem during the team's final playoff game against the Seattle Thunderbirds.

            “It was the Pats' final game in the Brandt Centre in Regina,” she says. “It was a packed building  and the crowd was really excited. The arena was filled from top to bottom, so it was more than packed. I'd sung for the Pats before, but this was a playoff game. A lot of people remark about the American national anthem being difficult to sing, but really, I think it's fun.”

            “ Of course, I wore a Pats jersey, but I had to stay neutral, because Ethan Bear plays for Seattle. We solved it by my son Gabriel wearing some Seattle stickers on his face. I had my jersey so we represented both teams,” she smiles.

            “Gabriel's five-years-old and every time I sang at the Brandt Centre this year, he came out with me and sat in the penalty box,” says Littlechief. “Now, whenever we're in Regina and we drive by the Brandt Centre or Mosaic Stadium, he says: 'Are we going to sing?'”

            Although she's previously sang 'O Canada' before Saskatchewan Roughriders games, Littlechief has been asked to sing the national anthem at the team's July 1st showdown against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

            “It'll be my first time singing in the new stadium,” says Littlechief. “So that's really exciting. When I sing in front of a big crowd like that in a big venue, it's still nerve-wracking until I get a few lines in and then I'm good.”

            “I'll also be singing for Canada's 150th in downtown Regina this summer and I might be hitting the road again for another radio tour in support of 'Scar On My Heart' -  this time in Saskatchewan.”

            “But no matter where I'm singing or who I'm singing for, the most gratifying thing for me as an artist is knowing that I have a positive impact on people and knowing that my performance has touched someone,” she says.

            “And 'Scar On My Heart' is a song that will help me continue to do that.”

            For more information - including where to purchase 'Scar On My Heart', visit www.TeaganLittlechief.com or visit Teagan LChief on Facebook.