Mother Flag and Country, the Hostel Band

Mother Flag and Country was the Akaitcho Hall (residential school) hostel band for 1971 and '72.

Each year, a group of students would be allowed to use the Akaitcho Hall equipment in exchange for doing all the dances for the students at the hall.

I was lucky to be the Singer in a Rock'n'Roll band for those two years.  I was a small fish in a small pond.  My time in both Yellowknife and Fort Simpson gave me opportunities I would never have had in a bigger pond, and I still like to play (see The School of Rock)!

Next Page
Ut Omnes Unum Sint

Was the moto of Akaitcho Hall, Yellowknife, NWT.  It means "That they may all be one."  With Inuit, Filipino, French Canadian, English and Scottish band members, we all became Mother Flag and Country.

We did not just play at Akaitcho, Sir John or St. Patrick School.  We played The Elks Hall, Con. Mines, Giant Mines, The Hoist Room, The Gold Range (Strange Range) and The Yellowknife Inn.  Though, we missed The Explorer (Exploiter) by a couple of years, we did fly to Fort Smith to do their Grad.  Our worst gig was in Fort Providence (the 300 km cold, bumpy drive was hard on my 6L6s, and I remember who shut off the furnace, Lakandula).

I often suggest eating together for team building (the band did that), but the best team building is playing music together.

About Us

Dan Pronovost and Chris Morgan were in the 1971 band.  I remember Chris impressed me with his Teac reel-to-reel tape-deck and Sennheiser headphones. 

I got the nickname "Scotty" that year.  The other two members were Gerard Menard, our bass player (his brother had a pickup; I'm not sure which was more important).  Finally, Alan Hyatt was our drummer, but he would rather have been the singer.  I jammed with Alan for hours, playing guitar (maybe I wanted to play lead).

In 1972, Joe Otokiak joined us to replace Chris on lead guitar.  I did not know until recently that his cousin is Mabel Oyakyoak.  Mabel writes to me every Christmas about northern adventures that make me feel truly Canadian. 

Also that year, we added a keyboard player.  Lakandula Baban and I were roommates, and we branched off our rock band work to do a lounge gig at the Elks club. 

Image


Even in small ponds, there is competition.  When Pat Burk left the band and hostel, and Rene Deshurley did not like singing infront of crowds, I got to sing "La-la-la-la Lola."

Choices

As a cover band, I would not say that our music made Mother Flag and Country special, but the fact that band members, with such varied backgrounds, made music for 2 years is definitely notable!

Featured Item

Yellowknife Radio

Their business plan was to sell a $200.00 PA system to a 16-year-old student for $25 down and $25 a month, with employment status: "Singer in a Rock'n'Roll Band."

When a $1.25/hr was a good deal

Featured Item

Pink Panther Sock Hop

The payback for using the hostel equipment was doing dances for students. Here we are, set up and ready to play a dance in the Pink Panther.

Singing for our amps

Featured Item

Pep Rally

We were asked to play music for Pep Rallies at Sir John.  Rocking out for your fellow students was great!  Bud Weaver helped us unload the equipment and was the only person who could lift the biggest speaker boxes alone; he was also a great math 20 tutor.  Thanks Bud!

Self-esteem boost

Featured Item

Making Money

We did dances all over Yellowknife.  We played The Elks Hall, Con. Mines, Giant Mines, The Hoist Room, Akaitcho Hall, Sir John Franklin, St. Patrick School and The Gold Range, but one of the nicest spots was the Yellowknife Inn. (Ad from the News of the North)

Giant mines was my favourite

Featured Item

I get to play lead

Sometimes, over holidays, band members would go home.  I stayed this Christmas and got to play lead.  Ken Bechtel (supervisor) told me he liked the band's new blues sound.

Joe is away

Featured Item

Playing at the Hoist Room

During a break, we sat with one of the members of Randy Demmon's (music teacher) band.  The member said our band had promise, but needed a new singer.  Having paid off the PA, my confident reply was:

"That's just your opinion, not mine!"

Featured Item

Under the Sea

We did a dance in the Akaitcho Hall dining room.  My complaint with all school and hostel dances was - no dancing with the girlfriends, Karen Beamish, Karen Stott and Miki Gauchie. They were no Yoko Ono, but they did influence practice times, Gerard.

All musicians have girlfriends, or boyfriends

Featured Item

Christmas 1972

I was living in Calgary, so flying home for all the holidays was too expensive.  Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Boxer and Mr. Lambert (Iggy) for letting me come to Akaitcho Hall that year.

Thanks!!!

Featured Item

1971 and '72 lineup

We had business cards and letterhead made at the school.  Thank you, Sir John.  Did I mention I hated the nickname "Scotty?"

Not Scotty

Featured Item

MFC's Last Waltz

Thanks to Pat Monaghan for doing the lighting.  Being the valedictorian (see Mr. MacQuarrie memorial) and singer at my own Grad was not the best way to please my girlfriend.  BTW, I would definitely have voted for Bill Braden to be valedictorian.

Advice from my Daughter

Contact Mother Flag and Country

Postoffice


Please send

me some other

pictures of

the band...


Click to E-mail us

Email:  MFC@Stobo.ca
Upload Picture:  Click here
Copyright 2021 Philip Stobo (Yes, the 50th Anniversary)