Morley Loon

Morley Loon (1948–1986) was a Canadian First Nations musician, from Mistissini, Quebec. Loon played in several groups, including Red Cedar and Kashtin, but was mostly known for his solo work. He mostly wrote and performed in the Cree language, and was a prominent activist for First Nations issues.

Career Loon was born 1948, in the village of Mistissini in what was then Baie-James, now Eeyou Istchee, in northern Quebec, to Cree parents. He began singing and touring in the late 1960s, composing in Cree. In the 1970s, Loon was an active part of the Canadian First Nations political movement. and participated in protests over the sale of First Nation artifacts at a Montreal auction. He recorded two albums with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Northern Service in 1975, as well as a studio album, North Land, My Land, with Boot Records in 1981. A cassingle, North Country, was released independently in 1984. Loon influenced other First Nations musicians, such as Lloyd Cheechoo and Kashtin, to sing in their own languages. Cheechoo played backing guitar and toured with Loon in the late 1970s.

Discography Songs in Cree Composed and Sung by Morley Loon, 1975, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Northern Service Cree Songs, 1975, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Northern Service North Land, My Land/Cette terre du Nord qui est mienne, 1981, Boot Records North Country, 1984, independently released