In Memory

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Julie Robertson 1964-2005

Recording artist, radio announcer, sister, wife and mother, Julie Robertson of Métis singing duo, CreeAtive Harmony, was diagnosed with breast cancer in October of 1997 and after a courageous 8-year journey, passed away peacefully on June 16, 2005. She leaves behind many beloved family members and friends, who will remember her. Services will be held on Friday June 24, at the Paddle Prairie Complex at 2 p.m. Lunch and fellowship to follow at the Paddle Prairie Hall.

Her Story
Juliet Janice was born April 26, 1964 in the small town of Coaldale in southern Alberta. She was the youngest of eleven children born to William and Matilda Beaulieu. When she was five years old they returned to the Paddle Prairie Métis Settlement area where her family had originated. The family lived in Manning for 2 years and then moved to Paddle Prairie when Julie started grade 5. Julie left Paddle Prairie to pursue a career in hairdressing in 1985.

Julie attended The Grande Prairie Beauty College and it was there, in May of 1986, that she met her husband-to-be, Mark Robertson. Mark and Julie moved to Paddle Prairie in 1987. Mark got a job with an oil company, and that meant a move to High Level. On April 2, 1988 Julie gave birth to a healthy baby girl, Jessica Rae. The young family then moved out of the city to the nearby town of Wembley, AB. On September 21, 1991 Julie gave birth to a little boy, Riley Raymond. Riley was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and he passed away when he was eleven days old. The next addition to the family was Taylor in 1992 and then, living back in Paddle Prairie, Blake came along in 1994.

In 1994 Julie Robertson and Dawn Ferguson, also from Paddle Prairie, won an aboriginal talent search contest and began performing together as CreeAtive Harmony, a Métis singing duo. CreeAtive Harmony has been described as versatile, powerful, and meaningful, with original songs coming from both Julie and Dawn. John Copely stated in a review of “Tribute to the Elders” - “Originality and flexibility shines brightly through the words and music.”

CreeAtive Harmony:

• opened for Chester Knight and the Wind during the Miss Indian Canada Pageant in 2000
• performed along with Canadian superstar, Tom Jackson at the 'Back To School Fundraiser' for Edmonton's inner city children
• received a Recording Industries Association (ARIA) nomination for Best New Recording Artist and Group of the Year for their original 'Tribute to the Elders' album
• were the recipients of the Esquao Award for Aboriginal Women in the Arts and Entertainment Category
• were one of fourteen Canadian artists chosen to be featured on the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame "New Faces of Canadian Country Music Vol.2" CD
• have had two of their original country songs (The Chains that Bind and A Woman, a Mother Alone) recorded in Nashville, Tennessee
• were asked to sing as part of the World Choir for the song "Go for the Worlds," the theme song for the 8th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, held in Edmonton, earlier this year
• have been featured on television's, The Sharing Circle, Saturday Night Live at the Rising Sun Cafe (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network- APTN), on The Big Breakfast Morning Show (A-Channel) and "First Music & Arts" on APTN.
• were nominated for Outstanding Aboriginal Recording - 2001 Prairie Music Awards.
• were nominated for Best Country Album, Best Group/Duo, Best Traditional Album-Historical for the 2001 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards.
• were nominated for Best New Recording Artist and Group of the Year for the Alberta Recording Industries Association Awards.
• were members of the Worlds Choir in the recording of the theme song “Go for the Worlds” for the 2001 IAAF World championships in Athletics.
• Canadian movie “On the Corner” features 2 CreeAtive Harmony songs.
• "Far From Home", one of tracks on the "Tribute To The Elder's" is featured on the soundtrack of the German "The Dark Area" similar to "Blair Witch Project".
• Their songs are internet favorites and in the top 40 charts in all genres, receiving emails from fans all over the world from as far away as Singapore to Sweden, and all across the US and Canada.
• Performed many live performances at various community functions as well as larger venues including the Aboriginal Youth Award Celebration, the Louis Riel Gala, the 1st National Residential School Conference.
• performed in Toronto at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards Show.

Julie expanded her music career when she began work at CFWE-FM, The Native Perspective radio in 2003. Her easy-going, fun style and many fans made her a very popular DJ/announcer until she went on medical leave in 2005.

Julie once said, “I don’t know what I’d do without the music, without the song, but I’m happy that I don’t have to think about that. Music – writing it, composing it, singing it, recording it, watching others enjoy it – except for my family, these are the main things that keep me going”. CreeAtive Harmony went on to produce 5 albums; “Let It Shine”, “Jesus, It’s Me Again”, “Tribute to the Elders”, “Reasons Why”, and the 2004 release “Battle Scars” titled for Julie’s original song about her battle with breast cancer. This song is a moving message to those that love Julie and a tribute to the beautiful, spiritual woman she was.

“I’ll be the breeze on your back on a hot, hot day, I’ll be the moonbeam that lights up your way, Or the northern lights that dance across the sky I will always be by your side, My friend, I will always be by your side.”

Battle Scars, CreeAtive Harmony 2004 lyrics by Julie Robertson