Fort Liard (Feb 02/04) - When Phillip Betthale arrived in Toronto for the 2003 Aboriginal Music Awards, he was struck by the sheer magnitude of the city.

Fort Smith's Phillip Betthale poses with his 2003 Aboriginal Music Keepers of Tradition Award. A CBC camera crew followed Betthale as he travelled to Toronto recently to receive the award. - photo courtesy of Greg Kazakoff

"I thought for sure I would get lost," joked the 41-year-old Fort Liard resident.

Betthale, a multi-talented musician and traditional drum maker, was in Toronto to accept the 2003 Aboriginal Music Keepers of Tradition Award.

The honour is handed out annually to the aboriginal musician doing the most to preserve traditional music.

"It was good to see all the people there, but I was a little bit nervous speaking in front of the crowd," he said of the Nov. 28 ceremony.

Betthale's music and artistry have carried him from his home town on the Liard River all the way to the shores of Lake Ontario.

But despite his accomplishments as a musician, drum maker, lyricist and teacher, Betthale remains humble.

"It's what I love to do," he said.

The self-taught musician is also the subject of a CBC documentary tracing his life in Fort Liard, his trip to Toronto and his role in preserving traditional music.

Different experience

"It's definitely an interesting experience," said Betthale, who admitted he was a little overwhelmed by his celebrity.

"When we got off the plane (at Pearson Airport in Toronto) a CBC camera crew was waiting for us."

"We got into a van and I was asked questions while the camera was running. It was different."

Ever humble, Betthale is more excited about what the documentary can do for Fort Liard than his music career.

"I'm excited that the community will be on television," he said. "Hopefully it could turn the young kids on to music."

Betthale, who has written more than a dozen songs, said his compositions combine both traditional and country music.

"I don't like music that is too fast, like rock," said Betthale, who grew up listening to artists like Elvis Presley.

"I prefer something that is softer and easier to dance to."

Betthale said much of his music is heavily influenced by his strong spiritual beliefs.

Many songs discuss dreams as a medium for the dead to communicate with the living. Others dwell on the power of faith.

"There is so much going on in the world (that we don't see) and I talk about that a lot in my songs," said Betthale.

His spirituality manifests itself on stage, where Betthale said he has performed for up to eight hours without a break.

"I get very involved in the music and I tune the outside world out," said Betthale, who was actually taken to hospital after one of his marathon performances.

"My friends tell me I need to watch myself."

A developing ear

Betthale said the defining moment of his music career came when he was 14, when one of his brothers gave him a guitar.

"I thought it sounded nice, so I began practising -- a lot."

Eventually Betthale, who has never taken a lesson, developed into one of the most recognized musicians in the NWT.

He's capable of playing a wide variety of instruments, including guitar, fiddle, harmonica and drums -- both traditional and contemporary.

"The key is practising," said Betthale.

"When I started out playing the guitar, I wasn't very good. But after playing for a long time, I became much better."

To this day, Betthale composes his music in a language only he can understand. His code -- as he calls it -- grew out of years of teaching himself how to play.

"Nobody will be able to copy my music," he joked. "I'll be the only one who can read it."

Betthale, who has three teenage children, sees a little bit of himself in his youngest son, 15-year-old Phillip Jr.

"He sings with me and likes to play music," said Betthale, who wouldn't mind seeing Phillip Jr. follow in his footsteps.

"But everybody has to make their own decisions," he pointed out.

The future

Despite his whirlwind tour of Toronto and his burgeoning celebrity, Betthale is happy to get on with life in Fort Liard.

"It's my home," he said simply.

While not working, he spends time making drums, teaching kids traditional hand games and compiling a CD of original compositions.

He's planning to hand over a rough demo tape to the CBC some time next week and would love to travel to Yellowknife or Hay River to record his songs in a professional sound studio.

"In the past, stories were (orally) transmitted from one generation to the next.

"But there is less of that now. It's important to record these songs, so the next generation can listen to them," he said.