Los Angeles tribute concert for Robbie Robertson supports Woodland Cultural Centre

A list of stars turned out for a five-hour tribute concert to legendary Mohawk musician Robbie Robertson in Los Angeles last week, including Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Mavis Staples and Eric Church. 

Robertson, the guitarist and principal songwriter of The Band, died on Aug. 9, 2023, at age 80.

The event Oct. 17 was recorded by Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese with plans to release a film later. Scorsese previously directed The Last Waltz, a documentary of The Band's last performance in 1976. 

The event also included Mohawk folk and soul musician, Logan Staats. Like Robertson, Staats's family comes from Six Nations of the Grand River near Hamilton. 

Staats said performing at the tribute was one of the highlights of his career so far. 

"But the most proud moment for me was I was able to sneak a Six Nations flag onto the stage and wave the Haudenosaunee flag during my set and then just hearing the response from the crowd," he said.

"The whole crowd just roared … it almost choked me up a little bit."

Staats said his grandmother ensured he knew of Robertson's own Mohawk heritage. 

"I find so many just parallels between me and him, especially him not right away knowing so much about his culture and him having to go through that process of reclamation, very similar to my story."

Performing in the tribute in front of 18,000 people in Los Angeles made Staats nervous, he said.  

"I know how much he means to our community and so many Indigenous musicians so for me, it was just a heavy load to carry, and I really wanted to put my best foot forward and do the best that I could," Staats said. 

The Band and Roberston's work were some of Staats's earliest memories of music.

"It was kind of the soundtrack to my life," he said. 

Proceeds to help promote Haudenosaunee culture

Part of the proceeds from the tribute concert will go to the Woodland Cultural Centre, which aims to preserve, promote and strengthen Indigenous language, culture, art and history. The centre is based in the former Mohawk Institute residential school building in Brantford, Ont.

"I think it's so important, you know, that still after Robbie's passing, he's still contributing to our art scene and he's still building our people up," Staats said.   

Heather George, the centre's executive director, said receiving funds from the tribute was a testament to the importance of the centre nationally and internationally. 

Following Robertson's death in 2023, his family asked for donations to the Woodland Cultural Centre in lieu of flowers. 

George said Robertson's long term commitment to the centre highlights the importance of spaces for artists to grow and thrive, adding the centre even houses one of the Junos Robertson won during his career.

The centre is in the midst of a capital campaign for a new building that will include a gallery space, theatre and workshop spaces for artists to practise their skills in the community.

The funds from the tribute concert will help the centre move forward to better serve artists, George said. 

"We want to do something that represents how beautiful and how talented and creative Haudenosaunee people are."