Artist Ambassador Program

Ahnahktsipiitaa, Colin VanLoon

Actor, Singer-songwriter
Vancouver, British Columbia

Ahnahktsipiitaa (Colin Van Loon), originally from Piikani (Brocket, AB) and raised in Lethbridge, AB, transitioned from acting to filmmaking, studying in SFU’s BFA Film Production program. Known in the industry for his assistantship to Alejandro González Iñárritu on The Revenant, Ahnahktsipiitaa also directs and curates Indigenous film series like REEL RESERVATIONS and Reel IndiGenuity. He co-founded Blackfoot Nation Films, collaborating on projects with Section 35 and The Snotty Nose Rez Kids.

Residing on Musqueam, Squamish, and Tseil-Waatuth territories, Ahnahktsipiitaa’s virtual reality project, “This is Not A Ceremony,” produced by NFB, premiered at Sundance, Tribeca, and Cannes. Proudly Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), he continues to innovate and advocate through his filmmaking, enriching Indigenous storytelling and representation in media.

Alanah Jewell

Contemporary Artist (Morningstar Designs)
Kitchener, Ontario

Alanah Astehtsi̲’ Otsistóhkwaˀ (Morningstar) Jewell (she/her) is a contemporary Indigenous artist. She is Bear Clan from Oneida Nation of the Thames, grew up off-reserve, and currently lives in Kitchener, Ontario. Alanah is an illustrator, painter, muralist, and organizes local Indigenous Art Markets through @IAmKitchener on Instagram.

Alanah received an Honours BA in Sociology from Wilfrid Laurier University and had dreams of attending law school or pursuing a Master’s degree in the years following graduation. However, life took a turn when she decided to pursue art as a hobby in 2019; she quickly developed a love for creating and felt that she could pursue art part-time. Illustrating and painting soon became her life work, and through this she has been able to connect with other Indigenous creators, participate in community, and express culture, love, and connection through her art.

Outside of creating, Alanah is also a consultant for the City of Kitchener, where she works to Indigenize urban parks and open spaces, giving members of the Indigenous community the opportunity to gather through art and creativity. Her passion is promoting Indigenous art and culture in urban areas.

Alicia Blore

Métis Fiddler
Toronto, Ontario

Alicia Blore is an award-winning Métis fiddler, based in Toronto, Ontario. Some of her most notable performances include the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention (NAFCO), Cirque de Soleil’s production of the Pan Am Games Opening Ceremony in Toronto in 2015, the Governor General’s Swearing-in ceremony of Canadian Cabinet in Ottawa in 2021, and the Pope’s apology in Quebec City in 2022. Alicia strives to pass down the fiddle traditions of her Indigenous elders and Métis ancestors.

Alyssa Wapanatâhk

Actor
Conklin, Alberta

Alyssa Wapanatâhk is an actress, writer, and director from Bigstone Cree First Nation/Conklin, AB in Treaty 8 Territory. She grew up in northern Alberta, attending school in Fort Mcmurray and the Edmonton area. As a young adult, she moved to Vancouver where she went to New Image College of Fine Arts, gaining a diploma for Acting in TV and Film. She created “The Boy & The Braid/Napes Kasekipatwat”, which she wrote, directed, and produced with Telus Storyhive. In 2020 she was cast in Disney’s Peter Pan & Wendy, playing the iconic role of “Tiger Lily”, where she also helped with cultural consulting as well. Alyssa is also Leo nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 2023, for the hit feature film, Bones of Crows!

Amanda Rheaume

Musician
Toronto, Ontario

Amanda Rheaume is a Métis singer-songwriter. Her music, deeply influenced by her identity as a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, expands cultural and geographic boundaries, amplifying underrepresented perspectives. Beyond music, Rheaume advocates for Indigenous sovereignty within the music industry. She co-founded Ishkode Records and contributed to initiatives like the International Indigenous Music Summit and National Indigenous Music Office. In her 15-year career, Rheaume has released five albums, was nominated for a JUNO Award, and won a Canadian Folk Music Award. Her latest single, “100 Years,” echoes the defiant spirit of “Copperhead Road”, confronting colonial violence with unapologetic historical narratives. Rheaume’s journey merges artistry with activism, crafting a powerful voice for marginalized communities within both music and society.

Angela Amarualik

Singer/Songwriter
Igloolik, Nunavut

Angela Amarualik was born and raised in the tiny community of Igloolik. Like many small communities in Canada’s Arctic, Igloolik had many social problems. Angela worked hard to retain a good attitude, improve her circumstances, and be a good role model for the younger kids in her town. Already a community role model – as well as Miss Igloolik – Angela now uses her music to inspire Nunavummiut youth and share Inuit culture with people around the world. Her music has taken her across Canada. Starting off with the Ukulele, Angela began writing songs in her native language, Inuktitut. Her musical style is a mix between ancient Inuit melodies and throat-singing, and the pop music of her childhood heroes, Beatrice Deer and Hilary Duff.

Angela Miracle Gladue

Hip Hop and Powwow Dancer, Performer, Artist, Educator
Edmonton, Alberta

Angela Miracle Gladue, also known as Lunacee, is a nehiyaw (Cree)/Greek interdisciplinary artist from Frog Lake First Nation in the Treaty 6 Territory of amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (Edmonton, Alberta).

In 2003, Angela immersed herself in Hip-Hop as a B-girl, influenced by the Indigenous Hip-Hop ensemble The Red Power Squad. She later joined the Fly Girlz Dance Crew, achieving notable victories at Artists Emerge and the Canadian Hip-Hop Championships, and placing third at the World Hip-Hop Championships in Las Vegas.

Since 2016, Angela has toured globally as a lead dancer for The Halluci Nation (formerly A Tribe Called Red), sharing stages with renowned artists like The Doors, Lido Pimienta, and Jeremy Dutcher. Her accomplishments span diverse fields—she’s choreographed for major events including the Indspire Awards and the Juno Awards and received accolades such as the City of Calgary’s Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award.

Beyond dance, Angela is an emerging filmmaker and fashion designer. Her films have screened at prominent festivals, and her beadwork, known as “Club Bangaz,” has been showcased in exhibitions across Canada. Angela continues to influence as a dance educator and cultural advocate, currently affiliated with The Kennedy Center and Woolly Mammoth Theatre.

August Swinson

Visual Artist
Kitchener, Ontario

August is an artist and member of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, currently living in Kitchener, Ontario. August works in a variety of styles and uses a mix of hand drawn and computer-generated illustrations. Influenced by the beauty of nature and the classic Canadian landscape, and memories of his childhood living on the Scugog Island reserve, his illustrations evoke a sense of fun, and something familiar that reminds us of a more innocent age but from a new perspective.

Aysanabee

Musician
Toronto, ON

Aysanabee (Ace-in-abbey) is a two-time JUNO Award-winning alternative indie artist, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and singer-songwriter. He is Oji-Cree from the Sucker Clan of Sandy Lake First Nation, a remote fly-in community in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. Now based in Toronto, he began creating music under his family name during moments of stillness that allowed him to slow down and create music that authentically reflects who he is as an artist. With a swirling mix of rock, soul, and electronic sounds and pulse-quickening fingerpicking, Aysanabee’s music is both anthemic and cathartic.

In March 2024, Aysanabee made history as the first Indigenous artist to win JUNO Awards for
both Alternative Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year for his EP Here and Now (October 2023).

Aysanabee’s March 2026 release, Timelines, an EP of fan-favourite songs reimagined and stripped back, reflects how many fans first discovered his music in the early days of his career, when he played hundreds of shows throughout Canada and around the world, armed with only his guitar, his voice, and his stories.

Beatrice Deer

Singer/Songwriter
Montreal, Quebec

Beatrice Deer, Canadian Aboriginal Music Award-Winning and Canadian Folk Music Award Winning singer-songwriter, is from Nunavik. Half Inuit and half Mohawk, Deer left her small village of Quaqtaq, QC. in 2007. She has five albums to her credit. This is a body of work in which she uniquely blends Traditional Inuit Throat Singing and Contemporary Indie Rock. “My All to You”, her fifth album, marks a milestone in the history of ‘Inuindi’ music (a genre pioneered by Deer), as for the first time, she composed all of the original music and lyrics. The themes covered encompass classic Inuit folk tales and legends, and also deal with personal growth as an important tool in the search for understanding and the search for meaning. She has won over audiences around the world and her songs are particularly loved in the Canadian Arctic, where audiences sing her songs during the many concerts she performs there. She sings in three languages: Inuktitut, English and French. As a role model for her community and a healthy lifestyle activist, Deer is often invited to speak. Her main message is that each of us must take control of our own life.

“No one else can do it for us. It is impossible to change what has happened. You can only adopt new ways of dealing with the past.”

Becky Han

Songwriter
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Becky (Koonoo) Han, originally from Ikpiarjuk (Arctic Bay), NU, and currently residing in Saskatchewan, is a singer, songwriter, and author celebrated for her contributions to Inuktitut culture and music. Han gained attention beyond her music through social media, particularly TikTok, where she engages tens of thousands of followers with new songs and Inuktitut language lessons. Her journey into music began as a way to stay connected to her roots after moving south, initially writing prose before delving into songwriting when gifted a guitar. Her music defies genre categorization, aiming for a modern sound that expands the variety of Inuktitut content beyond traditional folk songs. Han’s creative repertoire includes the adaptation of her award-winning song “Qaariaq” into the children’s book The Bee, published in both English and Inuktitut. While most of her music addresses adult themes of life, love, and adversity, Han’s impact extends to youth leadership through her work at the Canadian Red Cross, organizing workshops on Inuit culture and healthy lifestyles.

Awards from the Nunavut Department of Culture and Heritage and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association underscore her prowess as a songwriter. Han’s multifaceted career continues to enrich and amplify Inuit cultural expression on diverse platforms.

Blair Bellerose

Singer-songwriter, Guitarist
Vancouver, British Columbia

Blair Bellerose is a Métis, Cree and Dene singer/songwriter/guitarist. He founded Midnight Sparrows, a musical project that plays guitar driven hard rock that combines elements of classic rock, power pop and old school heavy metal. Midnight Sparrows’ debut album, Rock & Roll City, was nominated for a 2022 Native American Music Award and since then, Midnight Sparrows has been receiving radio play all across North America and beyond.

Hot on the heels of Rock & Roll City, Midnight Sparrows released its much anticipated follow-up, Born in the City in November 2022. Produced and written by Bellerose, Born in the City is a six-song rocker that that will make you believe that the magic of rock & roll still exists and its power is as strong ever.

The title track, Born in the City, is one of Blair’s most personal songs to date reflecting his lived experience of urban Indigeneity. Having lived, worked and studied in the urban Aboriginal community his entire life, this is a subject that Blair is very passionate about even writing his recent Master’s thesis on the ways in which government policies impact urban Indigenous non-profit organizations. Born in the City defiantly challenges the notion that living in a city renders one’s Indigeneity as inauthentic.

Identified as Métis his entire life, Blair is now also a proud member of Fort McKay First Nation thanks to a successful, women-led challenge to the Indian Act which allows for greater gender equity in passing on Indian status through the maternal family line, though Blair also proudly retains his Métis identity.

Blake Angeconeb

Visual Artist
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Blake Angeconeb is an Anishinaabe woodlands artist who hails from Treaty 3 territory. His first venture into art began 6 years ago during a fun painting session with his younger niece, which has since launched him into a full-time career as an artist. Blake’s primary practice involves acrylics and multimedia on canvas, blending the school of woodlands art with pop culture references. Blake is a self-trained painter with a growing collection of small and large scale works who enjoys collaborating with other artists. He is part of the Caribou clan and a proud member of Lac Seul First Nation.

Bomgiizhik (Isaac Murdoch)

Visual Artist
Cutler, Ontario

Isaac Murdoch, whose Ojibway name is Bomgiizhik, is from the Fish Clan of Serpent River First Nation. Murdoch is well respected as a Storyteller and traditional knowledge holder. His artworks include traditional Ojibway imagery/symbolism, and are influenced by his expertise in harvesting, medicine walks, cultural camps, Anishinaabe oral history, birch bark canoe making and birch bark scrolls

Murdoch’s images, like his stories, illustrate his deeply held beliefs in the great spirit of the Earth and reflect the knowledge he was taught by his Elders: “I am an artist, an activist, an advocate for our people, and a defender of the lands and waters. I believe it is no longer enough to just say something. I believe in the great power of art in bringing positive change. My artistic goal is to be a catalyst in building bridges and communities

Brian J. Francis

Film and Visual Artist
Elsipogtog, New Brunswick

Brian J. Francis, from Elsipogtog First Nation in New Brunswick, is a renowned director, writer, and filmmaker dedicated to preserving Mi’kmaq culture. A Mi’kmaq language interpreter for the public and the Parliament of Canada, he also creates spiritually inspired paintings that have been widely exhibited in Atlantic Canada. His work has been featured in major exhibitions including Wabanaki 2021 and 2022, and a projection art installation at Melbourne City Hall.

Francis has had a significant impact on Indigenous music, managing the Juno-nominated group Eagle Feather and advancing Native music production. In television, he has produced, directed, and written over 70 documentaries, including two feature films. His photography, featured in the publication Between Two Worlds, complements his artistic portfolio.

Francis is committed to raising awareness of Indigenous peoples, spearheading the development of the APTN series Eastern Tide and Circle of Justice, and directing The Sacred Sundance for the National Film Board of Canada.

Bridget Melody

Singer-Songwriter, Visual Artist
Toronto, Ontario

Bridget Melody is a Toronto-based Indie folk singer, songwriter, and visual artist known for her powerful vocals and heartfelt lyrics. Drawing from her French Canadian, Mi’kmaq, and Italian heritage, Bridget creates music that stirs the soul and promotes justice, love, and harmony.

Her debut album, Spirit Dance, released on March 11, 2021, was produced by award-winning Chris Birkett, with support from the Ontario Arts Council. She is currently working on a follow-up album, Spirit Song, inspired by a desire for impactful change in a chaotic world.

In June 2022, Bridget was nominated for a SIFA award for Best Social Impact for Music and Art. Her music has gained airplay on various radio shows across Canada and internationally, including 106.5FM The ELMNT and CIUT 89.5FM, showcasing her dedication to using art as a catalyst for social change.

Bryce Morin (Bear Grease)

Actor
Maskekosihk- Enoch Cree Nation (Treaty 6), Edmonton, Alberta

Bryce Morin (Enoch Cree Nation) from Treaty 6, Alberta is an actor, vocalist, cultural educator, powwow dancer, traditional drummer/singer, and storyteller. Recently Bryce has taken the theatre world by storm for his lead role performance as “Danny” in the all-star, Indigenous hit –musical, BEAR GREASE!

Candace Linklater

Founder, Relentless Indigenous Woman Consulting Inc.
Moose Factory Island, Ontario

Candace Linklater, a member of Moose Cree First Nation from Moose Factory Island, is a prominent advocate for Indigenous children’s rights in education. As a Ph.D. candidate, her research focuses on creating safe spaces for Indigenous queer children within educational settings. Drawing from her experience as an educator on her reservation and her lineage as a descendant of a historical Chief and Treaty 9 signatory, Candace emphasizes transforming K-12 education to foster genuine reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

Through her platform as the Relentless Indigenous Woman, Candace educates and inspires nearly a million followers on social media, advocating for systemic change and challenging colonial educational practices. She founded Relentless Indigenous Woman Co. to guide educators and leaders in their reconciliation efforts, emphasizing continuous learning and unlearning. Candace Linklater’s work transcends traditional education approaches, aiming to ignite meaningful solidarity and lasting transformation in educational environments and beyond.

Casandra Woolever

Artist, Entrepreneur
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Casandra Woolever is a Red River Métis Entrepreneur from Winnipeg. She founded her company, Métis Branded, in 2017, inspired by her love for the Métis Capote. From there she spent the next years learning more about her Métis lineage and new skills like sash weaving, beading, and ribbon skirts, so that she could provide people with handmade products and share the knowledge she has gathered.

On top of being a business owner, Casandra has done a lot for her community. She uses her platform on Instagram and Facebook to share opportunities for others, runs fundraisers, provides a safe space for individuals who want to learn more about the Red River Métis, and more.

Chantal Pronteau

Scientist, Language
Klemtu, British Columbia

Chantal Pronteau’s traditional Xai’xais name is dáduqvḷá k̓in̓ua q̓ṇ́s w̓áw̓ísk̓a, which translates to “person who watches over a place”.. She is Indigenous with mixed ancestry, including Métis heritage on her maternal side and Coast Tsimshian on her fraternal side. She grew up in East Vancouver, BC until 14 when she moved to Klemtu, BC to live with her fraternal grandmother. She studied at Kitasoo Community School and graduated in June 2012.

One of her most notable jobs was working as a Coastal Guardian Watchman for the Kitasoo Xai’xais Stewardship Authority (KXSA) of the Kitasoo Xai’xais First Nations from 2015-2019, enforcing KX nation laws. After finding a passion in language revitalization, she worked as a supervisor from 2019-2023. where she was tasked with documenting and saving the Kitasoo and Xai’xais heritage languages. In her current role, Chantal works as the Acting Stewardship Director for KXSA.

Cheri Maracle

Actor, Singer-songwriter
Six Nations, Ontario

Cheri Maracle, a multi-award-nominated actress, singer/songwriter, and playwright from Six Nations of the Grand River lands, has built a distinguished career across stage, television, and film. Her theatrical repertoire includes standout performances in productions like “Kisaageetin Cabaret” at the National Arts Centre, “Paddle Song” at the Firehall Theatre, and “The Rez Sisters” at Belfry Theatre. On television and film, she’s appeared in series such as UNSETTLED and The Coroner (CBC), Tribal (APTN), and Murdoch Mysteries (CBC), earning a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the CSA’s for her role in Blackstone (APTN).

Cheri also showcases her creativity as a playwright, debuting her children’s show “The Friendship Star” at the WEE Festival 2022. Additionally, she leads the Cheri Maracle Quintet, a jazz band performing across Turtle Island, with her music available on iTunes. Cheri Maracle continues to make significant contributions to the arts scene, blending her talents in acting, music, and storytelling.

Cheyenna Kootenhayoo (DJ Kookum)

Musician, DJ
Vancouver, British Columbia

KOOKUM is a Turtle Island-renowned DJ and producer making waves out of Vancouver, BC. A woman of many hats and genres, Kooks keeps the party hype, fresh, and ever deadly. An international star, she has performed in places like Germany, Australia, Mexico, and America, and played some of the hottest parties in Canada including Basscoast, Bastid’s BBQ, Nuit Blanche Toronto, Ted Talks official after party, and the Vancouver Michelin Awards.

Cody James Houle

Visual Artist
Brantford, Ontario

Cody James Houle (he/him), is an Anishinaabe independent artist based out of Brantford, Ontario. Raised in an unsafe home in the small military city of North Bay, Ontario, Houle had to generate his own sense of security and sustain his survival through a deeply intimate connection to nature and his heart’s desire to create something meaningful in this life. Being an artist is his calling and passion but being a father to daughter, Phoenix Raine, and showing her what it means to be an Anishnaabe’kwe is his ultimate priority in life. Growing up with intergenerational trauma and colonialism, Houle felt shame and guilt about being Native; now, his art allows him to show pride and strength in being an Indigenous man.

A self-taught painter, Houle has been active in the arts community for four years—since realizing he enjoyed the visual art form at the age of 31. While drawn to abstract visualizations and animate florals, it is the woodland paintings that resonate most for Houle and his sense of his culture. For him, paintings are teachings as long as one is open to learning the stories shared; great artists from the past can be mentors for the next generation of visionaries; works available for study feature techniques and stylized choices that unavoidably provide lessons in art and philosophy. Houle believes it is important to share art to inspire hope and encourages anyone (especially youth!) to create for the sake of creating; to express themselves and give expression to their lives because Indigenous life is art!

Cody Purcell / Cody Coyote

Musician, DJ, Motivational
Ontario

Cody Coyote was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and is of Ojibwe/Irish descent with ancestry from Matachewan First Nation. With his fusion of strong, profound lyricism accompanied by corresponding influential sounds, this multi-award nominated and award winning Hip-Hop/Electronic artist grasps his listeners attention and delivers a mesmerizing performance.

Danielle H. Morrison

Lawyer, Graphic Designer
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Danielle Morrison, a proud Treaty 3 member of the Anishinaabeg of Naongashiing, practices in the areas of Indigenous Law, Intellectual Property, Business Law (Corporate & Commercial) and Non-Profit Law. She received her call in July 2020.

Prior to law school, Danielle developed a long-standing career in program delivery, policy review and advocacy with various Indigenous-led movements and non-profit organizations at both the grassroots and national levels, including the National Association of Friendship Centres and the Assembly of First Nations. In that time, Danielle spent two years assisting Survivors of the Indian Residential Schools system as an outreach worker and form-filler for claims in the Independent Assessment Process.

Danielle holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Visual Arts and minor in Indigenous studies. In 2016, she was the lead Community & Cultural Engagement Coordinator for the national tour of Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s “Going Home Star: Truth and Reconciliation”, and has since co-founded the Indigenous Advisory Committee for the ballet company. Danielle is an avid community organizer and advocate for systemic and social change, and regularly volunteers her time in support of community-driven actions and movements.

Danielle is a visual graphic artist and photographer by trade, and spends her free time creating and designing art and products that reflect her pride in being Anishinaabe. She is a jingle dress dancer, small business owner of Clan Mother Goods and Apparel, and proud parent to Evie, Joseph, and Animkii.

David A. Robertson

Author
Winnipeg, Manitoba

David A. Robertson is a two-time Governor General’s Literary Award winner and has won the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award and the Writer’s Union of Canada Freedom to Read Award. He has received several other accolades for his work as a writer for children and adults, podcaster, public speaker, and social advocate. He was honoured with a Doctor of Letters by the University of Manitoba in 2023 for outstanding contributions to the arts and distinguished achievements. He is a member of Norway House Cree Nation and lives in Winnipeg.

David R. Maracle

Artist, Multi-Instrumentalist, Business Owner, Culture Facilitator
Kenhtè:ke Kanyen’kehá:ka-Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, Ontario

David R. Maracle, Tehanenia’kwè:tarons (Cutter of the Stone), is an award-winning Haudenosaunee artist from Kenhtè:ke Kanyen’kehá:ka-Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Since 1985, he has created exceptional stone sculptures and music, blending ancestral teachings with modern creativity. His “Originals in Stone” sculptures are in private collections worldwide, including the estate of Nelson Mandela and the Emperor of Japan. A multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer, David has released over 18 musical compilations and received two Gold Records from the RIAA for his world fusion ambient melodies. David’s accolades include multiple Canadian Indigenous Music Awards, and he has performed globally, including at the 2000 Olympics and for the Queen of England. As a successful entrepreneur, David owns the Eagle POD Gallery and Native Expressions, and has recently shifted to managing the “LiL Crow Cabin & PODS Courtyard,” a 5-star Indigenous retreat in Tyendinaga.

Dawn Hill

Social Worker
Six Nations, Ontario

Dawn is a member of the Mohawk Nation, Turtle Clan from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. She is a Registered Social Worker (RSW) and currently works at the Six Nations Family Health Team, located in historical downtown Ohsweken, as a clinical social worker. Dawn grew up at the Tuscarora Reservation in Lewiston, New York. She received a BA in Community Mental Health from the University at Buffalo, where she also received a Masters of Social Work (MSW).

Derek Miller

Singer-songwriter, producer

Six Nations, Ontario

Hailing from Six Nations of the Grand River, Derek is a two-time JUNO Award-winning singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer known for his powerful blend of roots rock, soul-driven blues and pop fueled melodies. He performed at the 2010 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremonies and gained the favour of icons like Iggy Pop, Robbie Robertson and Willie Nelson, who did a duet on his album Derek Miller With Double Trouble. With 10 plus albums under his belt as a performer and a producer, Derek has built a reputation for bringing serious heat to the stage.

Desiree Dorion

Singer-songwriter, Lawyer
Dauphin, Manitoba

Desiree Dorion is a singer-songwriter and lawyer from Dauphin Manitoba, and a proud member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation. As a JUNO Nominee, Desiree has seen multiple songs chart in the top 100 on the Canadian country music charts (TRAX) and has topped the Indigenous Music Countdown.

Her sixth studio album, That’s How I Know, produced by Chris Burke-Gaffney and released in February 2024, features deeply personal tracks like “I Can’t Love You to Death,” inspired by her experience setting boundaries with a loved one battling addiction. Desiree’s recent singles, including “Your Last Name,” “Wouldn’t That be Fun,” and “Sometimes I Drink” (co-written with Crystal Shawanda), have all reached #1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown and garnered significant global streams.

Beyond music, Desiree hosts the Achimotak series with the Canadian Country Music Association and serves as an artist ambassador for the Downie Wenjack Foundation. Her career spans performances across Canada, including notable venues in Las Vegas and Nashville, highlighting her influence and commitment within both the Indigenous and country music communities.

Destiny Hoostie

Beader, Business Owner of Takaya Designs and Bangin’ Bannock
Regina, Saskatchewan

Destiny Hoostie, of mixed Assiniboine, Norwegian, and German descent, is the founder of Takaya Designs, an Indigenous woman-owned business specializing in beading kits. Inspired by her discovery of beadwork while working with Indigenous youth in a group home, Destiny’s passion for beadwork ignited. She draws inspiration from powwows, where she admires the intricate beadwork displayed in regalia, honoring the resilience and cultural resurgence of Indigenous peoples.

Her business aims to promote and teach Indigenous beaded art, starting with kits featuring her own creations and aspiring to collaborate with other Indigenous artists to develop more kits. Destiny sees beadwork not only as a beautiful art form but also as a healing practice that has been integral to her personal journey. Her goal is to ignite a similar passion for beadwork in others through accessible and supportive beading kits, designed to inspire beginners and seasoned artisans alike to explore and continue their own beading journeys.

Don Ross

Musician
Windsor, Nova Scotia

Don Ross, originally from Montreal and now residing in Windsor, Nova Scotia, is an acclaimed guitarist, composer, and performer known for his innovative solo guitar music. With a diverse career spanning decades, Don has released 18 solo albums and collaborated on 21 projects, showcasing his versatility and musical depth.

Born to a Mi’kmaw Indigenous mother and a Scottish immigrant father, Don’s musical journey began with early accolades such as winning the US National Fingerpick Guitar Championship twice in 1988 and 1996. He signed with labels like Duke Street Records and Narada Records, expanding his international presence through tours in Europe, Asia, and beyond.

Beyond his solo career, Don leads the quartet Don Ross Louder Than Usual, exploring jazz-infused compositions. Recently, he completed a Master of Arts degree in Orchestration and has delved into scoring music for video games, films, and television.

Don Ross continues to be a pioneering force in modern guitar music, recognized with honors like the Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts in 2021.

Dr. Bernie Francis

Musician, Author, Linguist, Activist
Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

Dr. Bernie Francis is renowned in Mi’kma’ki and beyond for his lifelong work, dedication, and passion to preserve the language and empower Mi’kmaw sovereignty. He was raised in Unama’kik, Maupeltu (Membertou, Cape-Breton). In his early career, Dr. Francis initiated Nova Scotia’s Court Worker Program (CWP) to ensure the fair and proper treatment of Mi’kmaw people within the provincial and federal court systems.

Dr. Bernie Francis co-created the Smith-Francis Orthography with his friend and mentor, Doug Smith, in 1974. Recognized by the Grand Council and the Canada-Nova Scotia-Mi’kmaw Tripartite Forum, the Smith-Francis Orthography has been the official writing system of the Mi’kmaw Nation since 1980. Dr. Bernie Francis is an accomplished musician, storyteller, and translator. He has translated many songs into the Mi’kmaw language, including the Canadian National Anthem which is used in schools across Mi’kma’ki. Dr. Francis is an advocate for his people and for the Mi’kmaw language, graciously sharing his knowledge with anyone willing to learn. Of all his accomplishments and contributions, perhaps the most important is his commitment to stay involved with community, at the grassroots level.

Dr. Duke Redbird

Elder, Poet, Activist, Educator, Artist
Toronto, Ontario

Dr. Duke Redbird is an Elder from the Saugeen Ojibway Nation on the shores of Lake Huron. A celebrated Indigenous Visionary as well as an established public intellectual, poet, broadcaster, and filmmaker, Dr. Redbird is also a highly sought after keynote speaker. He is an Elder and Advisor to various public and private organizations, and his online presence brings his breadth of cultural knowledge and artistic practice to the benefit of a global audience.

Dr. Redbird is instrumental in the implementation of innovative multimedia, technologies and beyond, bringing an Indigenous approach to art education that was rooted in his pioneering work at OCAD University. A multidisciplinary artist, he brings an Indigenous lens to modern art and design and has aided in the emergence of a vibrant Indigenous presence on the contemporary cultural scene. Dr. Redbird’s legacy of outstanding contributions to culture, literature, human rights, stretch far beyond his work in Canada.

Drew Hayden Taylor

Author, playwright
Toronto, Ontario

During the last thirty years of his career, Drew Hayden Taylor has done many things, most of which he is proud of. An Ojibway from the Curve Lake First Nations in Ontario, he has worn many hats in his literary career, from performing stand-up comedy at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., to being Artistic Director of Canada’s premiere Native theatre company, Native Earth Performing Arts. He has been an award-winning playwright, a journalist/columnist (appearing regularly in several Canadian newspapers and magazines), short-story writer, novelist, television scriptwriter, and has worked on numerous documentaries exploring the Native experience. Most notably as a filmmaker, he wrote and directed REDSKINS, TRICKSTERS AND PUPPY STEW, a documentary on Native humour for the National Film Board of Canada, and co-created SEARCHING FOR WINNETOU, an exploration of Germany’s fascination with North American Indigenous culture for CBC,.

Oddly enough, the thing his mother was most proud of was his ability to make spaghetti from scratch.

Drezus

Rapper, Activist
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Drezus has been a staple in the Indigenous music scene for over a decade. Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and from the Muskowekwan and Cote First Nations respectively, Drezus has opened up a new world that combines traditional Anishinaabe and Nehiyaw teachings with hip-hop music and expression. He credits his growth and perseverance through life’s challenges to the creative arts.

Drezus won five Indigenous Music Awards from 2012-2015, was nominated for a Juno in 2009, and won an MTV Video Music Award for “Best Fight Against the System” in 2017 with Taboo of The Black Eyed Peas. In 2019 he appeared in season 2 of the acclaimed Paramount Network TV series Yellowstone, alongside Kevin Costner.

Drives The Common Man

Singer
Toronto, Ontario

Drives the Common Man is a Mi`kmaq singer, songwriter, producer and visionary artist hailing from Southern Ontario. With an astounding following on TikTok, Drives the Common Man has ignited a viral sensation, captivating hearts and minds around the globe. With a magnetic stage presence and a sound that defies conventions, this musical dynamo guarantees an experience that’s not just memorable but truly extraordinary. Fueling their artistry with an unbridled passion for pop and rock, Drives crafts a spellbinding fusion of alternative pop that’s both nostalgic and groundbreaking. Their music is a sonic odyssey that evokes emotion, stirs the soul, and leaves an indelible mark on all who bear witness.

Eddy Robinson

Speaker, Trainer, Consultant, Knowledge Keeper
Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Eddy Robinson, whose spirit name is Nodin N’dishnaakaz (Wind), is a proud member of the Missanabie Cree First Nation with deep connections to Baawaating (the place of the rapids).

He is an Indigenous educator, speaker, storyteller, and cultural strategist with over 30 years of experience working locally, nationally, and globally alongside schools, organizations, municipalities, governments, and community leaders.

At the heart of Eddy’s work is relationship-building — creating trust, understanding, and a shared vision across cultures, systems, and generations. He specializes in bringing people together in meaningful ways that move beyond performative gestures toward lasting, respectful partnerships.

Elisapie

Singer 

Montreal, QC 

Elisapie, a multifaceted artist from Salluit, Nunavik, Quebec, is renowned as a musician, broadcaster, documentary filmmaker, activist, and actress. She gained prominence with her fourth album, Inuktitut, where she reimagined classic rock and pop songs from the 1960s to the 1990s in her native Inuktitut language. 

Throughout her career, she has received critical acclaim and accolades for her work such as two Felix Awards and multiple nominations at Gala de l’ADISQ and the JUNO Awards. This album, described as a delicately violent exploration of ’70s rock and indigenous folk, reflects Elisapie’s personal journey from adoption in Salluit to life in Montreal, where she found solace and started a family. As an ambassador for Inuit culture, Elisapie’s music and activism highlight the challenges and pride of her heritage. Her latest single, “Asuguuq,” released on National Indigenous Peoples Day in 2020, further emphasizes her commitment to Inuit communities. Elisapie continues to intertwine her northern roots with soulful folk music, bridging languages and cultures to share her personal narrative and celebrate Indigenous resilience.  

Emily Kewageshig

Artist, Designer, Storyteller
Southampton, Ontario

Emily Kewageshig is an Anishinaabe artist and visual storyteller from Saugeen First Nation in Ontario. She moved from her reserve to Toronto at 17 years of age to pursue a higher education, with hopes of making a living doing the one thing she loved the most – creating art. After becoming a mother in 2018, Kewageshig reflected on how everything in life is cyclical, a concept informed by her heritage. Like a circle, without a beginning or an end, the earth orbits the sun, the seasons come and go in faithful order, and every living thing is bound to its life cycle. Collectively, Emily’s work highlights interconnectedness of all living things while promoting the need for harmony and balance so the life cycle of each plant, animal, and person can be preserved for the vitality of future generations. Stylistically, her work uses vivid colours and bold, graphic lines using both traditional and contemporary materials and methods. Emily continues to be a role model for First Nations youth across Turtle Island as she continues to chase her dreams by inspiring and teaching through her art. In 2020, she returned to her home community of Saugeen First Nation.

Fawn Wood

Singer
St Paul, Alberta

Fawn Wood is a Plains Cree and Salish musician from Saddle Cree First Nation in Treaty Six Territory. Fawn won her first Juno Award in 2022 for Traditional Indigenous Musician of the Year. Her songs speak to her life as an Indigenous woman and her ancestral connection.

G.R. Gritt

Musician
Sudbury, Ontario

G.R. Gritt is a Juno Award winning, Two-Spirit, Transgender, Francophone, Anishinaabe/Métis artist. After living many years in Yellowknife and forming the band Quantum Tangle, they have recently moved back to Sudbury/Robinson Huron Treaty territory where they grew up. This homecoming coincides with a journey that they feel better represents them. With these changes has come a new voice both physically and in the growing magnetism of their songwriting. G.R. Gritt pulls effortlessly from the past to create soulful futurisms with their new sound that elegantly weaves the melodies using vocals, guitar and new electronic elements. They create both intimate and anthemic music that would fit in a folk club, a dance club and anywhere in between.

The Northern cities G.R. Gritt has lived in forced them every winter through snow and harsh temperatures to make a choice between isolation and seeking community as a source of warmth. Their music serves as one of these beacons of connection for all who come near it. Welcoming yet truthful, they reclaim space through songs that show that intersectional identity is expansive and not to be divided into parts. By exploring the emotional and cultural core of their heritage as a non-binary, queer, Indigenous artist they create new space and encourage others to do the same.

G.R. Gritt is currently preparing for the release of a new full-length album titled, Ancestors, in 2020 on Coax Records.

Gerald Auger

Indigenous Relations Consultant
Calgary, Alberta

Gerald Auger, of Woodland Cree descent, is a multifaceted entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and award-winning director and actor. With over 20 years’ experience in Hollywood, his notable roles include Pawnee Killer in Hell on Wheels and Makamuk in Lost Face. His documentaries Walking Alone and Honour Thy Father garnered industry acclaim. Gerald’s journey shifted in 2009 when he left Hollywood to heal from childhood trauma linked to intergenerational impacts of residential schools and colonization. A six-year spiritual sabbatical with traditional knowledge keepers followed, reshaping his commitment to Indigenous advocacy and youth empowerment.

Returning from his sabbatical, Gerald focused on mentoring troubled youth, drawing from personal experiences to develop programs that promote positive life changes through cultural and spiritual teachings. He leads healing camps addressing intergenerational impacts and collaborates on issues like MMIWG, violence against women, and human trafficking.

Currently, Gerald is creator and executive producer of the TV series Matriarchs. The show is rooted in cultural and spiritual beliefs and continues to elevate Indigenous representation and challenge stereotypes in media.

Graeme Jonez

Singer-songwriter, Storyteller, Marketing Professional
Toronto, Ontario

Graeme Jonez is an Anishinaabe/English indie roots-rock performer and songwriter. A storyteller at heart, Jonez’s Indigenous culture and love for old folk and blues music are what shape his unique musical style. Jonez respects his role as a songwriter and messenger by speaking on topics such as colonization, Indigenous people’s connection to the natural world, and current sociopolitical issues. In March of 2024, Jonez reached #1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown with his hit single, “The Flood!” Jonez is a member of the Sheguiandah First Nation on Manitoulin Island and an alumni of Manitoba Music’s Indigenous Music Residency.

Hussein El Namer (Handsome Tiger)

Music Producer, DJ
Vancouver, British Columbia

Handsome Tiger is an Anishinaabe Métis, North African music producer and DJ from Turtle Island, residing in Vancouver, BC. His production blends traditional sounds from his culture alongside other Indigenous sounds, interwoven into the contemporary sounds of electronic bass music. He was named in CBC music’s 6 Indigenous artists you need to know in 2021 and CBC’s Reclaimed artists to watch in 2020. No stranger to the Vancouver and West Coast music community, Handsome Tiger has played countless shows and gathered numerous releases under his belt. With a love of bass music, he’s been a strong advocate in supporting and contributing to many events in Vancouver’s underground scene. Quickly becoming a Canadian festival scene favourite, he’s had appearances at Bass Coast, Shambhala, Mutek, and more. His DJ sets mix many flavours of sound system culture and global bass sounds including dub, grime, dancehall, afrobeats, rap, reggaeton and more – all woven together to light up any dance floor.

Ila Barker

Musician
Winnipeg, Manitoba

With soaring vocals and lyrics that wash over the heart and mind like waves, Anishinaabe indie folk soul artist Ila Barker takes listeners on an introspective journey creating space for love, loss, and letting go. With the grit and raw emotion of Brandi Carlile, the poetic storytelling of Jewel, and the charm of Gabrielle Aplin, Ila braids an eclectic sound that feels familiar, unlike anything you’ve heard before. In 2022, Ila released her much anticipated LP titled Fool Under Water, topping charts across Canada and the United States. This Honour Song to her metamorphosis is just the beginning.

Jace Martin

Musician
Six Nations, Ontario

Jace Martin is a USA Billboard Mainstream Top 40 Charting artist & producer. He has toured North America, sharing the stage with Salome Bey, Robbie Robertson, Sam Moore, Jonny Lang & More. His album Rainboworld, released in 2020, is dedicated to his greatest mentor in music, Salome Bey. The album features excerpts from the theatre production Rainboworld, written by Salome Bey and featuring Divine Brown, Joey Stylez, HellNBack, Gavin Brown, Justin Abedin, and more.

James Jones (Notorious Cree)

Dancer, TikTok Star, Activist
Edmonton, Alberta

James Jones is nehiyaw (Cree) from Tallcree First Nation in Treaty 8 territory in northern Alberta. known as Notorious Cree across Instagram and Tiktok, James has an engaging community of over 6m+ people globally. James uses his voice to educate and spread awareness on the issues impacting Indigenous communities across the globe. As a traditional hoop and powwow dancer, performance artist, youth workshop facilitator and public speaker, James advocates to inspire future generations by reclaiming his culture and encouraging others to do the same. His notable performances include the Winter Olympics, Juno Awards, Pan Am Games, Coachella, and was a previous contestant on So You Think You Can Dance Canada.

James N. Wilson

Singer-songwriter
Six Nations, Ontario

James N. Wilson is a Mohawk and French-Canadian singer-songwriter musician from Six Nations of The Grand River. He has performed his music all around North America sharing the stage with many artists such as Derek Miller, Logan Staats, DJ Shub, and many more. His original music has been compared to artists such as Dave Matthews, Shawn Mendes, and Coldplay. In December of 2019, his song “City Lights” hit #1 on the IMC Indigenous Music Countdown. He is set to be releasing his second album “Alive” in 2024.

Joseph Pitawanakwat

Indigenous Plant Medicine Educator
Manitoulin Island, Ontario

Joseph Pitawanakwat, an Ojibway from Wiikwemkoong, is the Founder & Director of Creators Garden, an Indigenous outdoor education-based business focused on plant identification, beyond-sustainable harvesting, and teaching every one of the plants’ linguistic, historical, cultural, edible, ecological, and medicinal significance through experiences. His lectures and intensive programming are easily adaptable to make appropriate to individual audiences and have been successfully delivered to a variety of organizations including over 80 First Nations communities, 20 universities, 12 colleges, and dozens of various institutions throughout Canada and the United States.

Joseph is currently a master’s student in the MES program at York University but has learned from hundreds of traditional knowledge holders and is uniquely blending and reinforcing these teachings with an array of western sciences. Joseph is married and has one daughter.

Josh Finlayson

Singer-songwriter
Toronto, Ontario

Josh Finlayson is a founding member of the legendary Canadian folk-rock band Skydiggers, contributing as guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist since its inception in 1988. With Skydiggers, he has shaped their enduring sound across 18 albums spanning over three decades, blending folk, rock, and country influences into evocative musical landscapes. Beyond Skydiggers, Finlayson is renowned for his extensive collaboration with Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip, contributing to Downie’s solo recordings and tours from Coke Machine Glow (2001) to Away Is Mine (2020), the latter being one of Downie’s final works before his passing.

Josh’s creative footprint extends further through his diverse portfolio in songwriting, record production, and composition for TV and film. His musical versatility and profound contributions to the Canadian music landscape have solidified his reputation as a respected artist and collaborator.

Joshua DePerry (DJ Classic Roots)

DJ, Fancy Dancer
Toronto, Ontario

DJ Classic Roots is a Thunder Bay-born, Toronto-based DJ, producer, and founder, celebrated for blending Ojibwe and Blackfoot heritage into his Electronica soundscapes. As a member of Long Lake 58 First Nation’s Mukwa-Dodem (Bear Clan), Joshua’s music resonates deeply within the electronic music community, marked by collaborations and accolades. His artistic journey merges First Nations melodies with techno and house influences, defying genre boundaries and drawing inspiration from visionaries like Daft Punk and Richie Hawtin. Utilizing cutting-edge software and drum machines, Classic Roots crafts a unique sonic tapestry that honors Anishinaabe beats and fosters cultural liberation. Beyond music, Joshua empowers First Nations youth through workshops that integrate dance, cultural expression, fitness, and DJing, promoting optimism and self-assurance. His work reflects the untamed spirit of Northern Ontario, celebrating resilience and inspiring others to pursue their dreams with determination and pride.

Joshua Odjick

Actor
Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, Quebec

Joshua Odjick, an Indigenous actor from the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nations Community, has made a significant impact in film and television. He achieved his breakthrough with a series regular role in the Canadian TV series Unsettled, followed by roles in acclaimed projects like Bootlegger and the international series The Swarm. Notably, Joshua received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Wildhood, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Raised on a reserve and influenced by relatives who are residential/day school survivors, Joshua brings a rare depth and authenticity to his performances, embodying characters with a profound mix of love, vulnerability, and resilience. His approach to acting is rooted in spirituality and a strong connection to his Indigenous heritage, emphasizing storytelling that honors the traditions and teachings of his people. Joshua embraces his platform to amplify these stories, portraying characters that reflect both the strength and challenges of Indigenous experiences with heartfelt sincerity.

Julian Taylor

Singer/Songwriter
Toronto, Ontario

Julian Taylor is a Canadian singer-songwriter of West Indian and Mohawk decent. Formerly associated with the band Staggered Crossing, he has continued to record and perform as a solo artist. He is a prolific artist who has released nine studio albums since 2001. Three with Staggered Crossing, Four with his band JTB and two on his own.

A Toronto music scene staple and a musical chameleon, Julian Taylor is used to shaking it up. With his songs being placed in such TV shows as Haven, Private Eyes, Kim’s Convenience and Elementary, his versatility as a songwriter is signature; one minute he’s on stage playing with his band spilling out electrified rhythm and blues glory, and the next he’s featured at a folk festival delivering a captivating solo singer-songwriter set reminiscent of Jim Croce.

Justin Stephenson

Director, Animator
Toronto, Ontario

Justin Stephenson is an acclaimed filmmaker and moving image designer known for his versatile and hands-on approach across various mediums. His achievements include animating Tasha Hubbard’s “We Will Stand Up,” directing and animating Gord Downie’s Secret Path in Concert for CBC and creating the animated film for The Secret Path. Justin’s international touring film The Complete Works, based on bpNichol’s poetry, earned him two Golden Sheaf awards. His work is distinguished by a focus on materiality, emphasizing the physical qualities of subjects and media. This is evident in his title designs for films like David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method, which incorporate ink, paper, and letterforms to enrich storytelling. Justin’s portfolio extends to directing and designing for television, commercials, interactive media, and live performances. Notable projects include video design for Fujiwara Dance Inventions’ “Eunoia” and animation design for Robert Lepage’s opera productions.

Justin has received numerous accolades, including two Canadian Screen Awards and a Juno nomination. His work continues to push boundaries, blending artistry with technical expertise to create impactful visual narratives.

Kahentawaks Tiewishaw-Poirier

Digital Artist
Kanehsatake, Quebec

Kahentawaks is a Kanienʼkehá:ka multidisciplinary artist from Kanehsatake. Her practice includes 3D modelling, illustration, game making, and sculpture. She graduated from Concordia University with a BFA specialization in Computation Arts. Formerly the Skins Workshop Associate Director for AbTeC & IIF, she is now the Artistic Director of Revital Software, an Indigenous language revitalization game studio. Kahentawaks is deeply interested in video games as a vehicle for Indigenous culture and experience, as well as their capacity to facilitate the healing of intergenerational trauma.

Kevin Hearin

Musician
Toronto, Ontario

Kevin Hearn is renowned as a versatile multi-instrumentalist prominently known for his tenure with Barenaked Ladies, a band he has performed with for over two decades. A respected figure in Toronto’s music scene, Hearn’s solo albums showcase collaborations with notable artists such as Ron Sexsmith and producer Gavin Brown. His release, ‘Calm and Cents,’ features Hugh Marsh on violin, Chris Gartner, and Gavin Brown.

In addition to his solo work, Hearn unveiled the exclusive EP ‘Kevin Hearn and Friends Present: The Superhero Suite,’ a vibrant compilation of vintage superhero-themed music. The EP features luminaries including Ron Sexsmith, Michael Ray, Carole Pope, and a standout collaboration with Violent Femmes, Barenaked Ladies, and Colin Hay on the classic TV’s Batman theme.

Hearn’s musical journey also includes a significant partnership with the late Lou Reed, whom he supported as keyboardist and musical director from 2007 until Reed’s passing in 2013. His solo endeavors allow him creative freedom beyond Barenaked Ladies, exploring deeply personal themes and musical styles.

Kiefer Collison

Motivational Speaker
Old Massett, British Columbia

Kiefer Collison, from the Haida Gwaii village of Old Massett, BC, is a passionate advocate for youth empowerment and Indigenous representation. Known for his impactful role on Big Brother Canada, he used his platform to amplify the voices and stories of Indigenous peoples nationwide; which he considers his greatest honor.

Collison’s journey is deeply rooted in his cultural heritage, which he actively shares through workshops across Canada, including in various First Nations communities. These workshops engage youth in conversations tailored to their age groups, focusing on themes of resilience, pride, and achieving dreams against adversity.

With a strong belief in the potential of youth as the cornerstone of our future, Collison connects with young audiences as a relatable role model. His experiences on television and in community work have shaped his mission to empower others to find strength in their voices and cultural identities.

Collison continues to make significant contributions through his work with organizations like the First Nations Health Authority and Indspire, and his appearances at events and on television underscore his commitment to Indigenous issues and youth advocacy.

KIMIWVN

DJ & Music Producer 
Toronto, ON

KIMIWVN is an up and coming DJ, music producer, and visionary based in hometown Toronto. As an Indigenous artist, she weaves sound and identity into every set, creating spaces that celebrate culture, community, and creativity, a fearless sound, she blends raw energy with deep-rooted storytelling.  
She made her debut in 2021 with Indigenous Grooves, a groundbreaking event spotlighting Indigenous women and nonbinary artists. Since then, she’s brought the heat to stages like TD Music Hall, Toronto Pride, the Royal Ontario Museum, and Sweat & Tonic just to name a few —leaving dancefloors lit and minds shifted.

Kyle Joedicke

Artist
Hamilton, Ontario

Kyle Joedicke is a Cayuga Woodland artist from Caledonia, Ontario, whose work reflects his Haudenosaunee cultural heritage. Growing up with a Scottish mother and a Cayuga father from Six Nations of the Grand River, Joedicke’s paintings are informed by traditional stories and influenced by west coast Haida art and renowned artist, Norval Morrisseau.

Based in Hamilton, Joedicke has gained recognition for his vibrant murals that convey Indigenous teachings. One notable mural completed in 2021 on Hamilton’s Concession Street depicts seven animals, illustrating the oral history and traditions of Indigenous Elders in bright colours and patterns. As he continues to explore his ancestral teachings, Joedicke aims to share these meaningful stories with the Hamilton community, fostering a greater understanding of Indigenous culture.

Lancelot Knight

Singer-songwriter

Toronto, Ontario

Lancelot Knight is a Plains Cree genre-blending singer-songwriter from Saskatchewan known for his powerful voice, masterful guitar skills and dynamic live performances. His music showcases his versatility with original songs spanning genres from soulful ballads to high-energy anthems.

Lancelot’s debut full length album will be released later this year. The first single, “The Woods” is an alternative rock single that delivers a haunting and deeply personal reflection on the emotional blind spots that come with love and loss.

In the year leading up to the release of his debut solo album, Knight was honoured to be an Official Showcase artist at Folk Music Ontario 2024, Departure Festival 2025 and was the winner of Saskatchewan Indigenous Music Awards 2024, Rock Artist of the Year.

Laurie Shaw-Greyeyes

Truth and Reconciliation Speaker/Artist
Calgary, Alberta

Laurie Shaw-Greyeyes is a proud Cree woman from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation and the visionary founder of GEN7Path, an Indigenous-led movement dedicated to truth, reconciliation, and healing through storytelling, music, and cultural education. With over two decades of experience in leadership, advocacy, and program development, Laurie’s work is deeply rooted in the Cree law of Wahkohtowin—the understanding that we are all related and carry responsibility to one another. She is a respected voice in the movement for Indigenous sovereignty and intergenerational healing, known for creating transformative spaces through public speaking, workshops, and music. Her initiatives, including the GEN7Path Speaker Series and the Path Back to Who We Were music project, are reshaping how people in Canada understand reconciliation and bridging Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities with authenticity and compassion.
A mother, artist, and entrepreneur, Laurie is committed to uplifting Indigenous voices and protecting cultural knowledge for future generations.

Leah Belle

Musician

Sudbury, ON

Leah Belle’s brand of country music is a fresh sound and uniquely her own. Her vibe will make you feel young and carefree.  The Ontario based Métis singer/songwriter has garnished national attention with her mix of profound lyrics and lighthearted melodies. Her single Time Some Country can be heard on Sirius Xm and her first album Country Air was nominated for a CBC Indigenous Music Award in 2018. Her second album Shine, released in 2020, has most recently been nominated for 2 National Aboriginal Music Awards. But above all, Leah hopes to inspire and touch the hearts of her listeners with her contemporary country sound.  

Please join her rapidly growing fan base by following her on Spotify,  
Apple Music, Instagram, and Facebook.  

Leela Gilday

Musician
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

Leela Gilday is a captivating singer-songwriter known for her soulful performances and powerful storytelling. Raised in the Northwest Territories, her music reflects her Dene heritage and Northern roots, painting a vivid picture of the land and its people. With a voice that resonates with authenticity, Gilday’s lyrics convey profound love for her rugged environment and vibrant culture, seamlessly blending traditional Dene drumming with modern bass lines.

Touring extensively with her band, Gilday has enchanted audiences worldwide, from festivals in Canada to stages in the United States, Greenland, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. Her live performances are transformative experiences where she connects deeply with her audience, guiding them through emotional landscapes with each song.

Recipient of the Indigenous Artist of the Year JUNO Award in 2021 for her album “North Star Calling,” Gilday continues to push boundaries with her upcoming Dene-language record, showcasing her commitment to preserving and celebrating Indigenous languages and culture through music. As a storyteller, she illuminates universal themes with clarity and purpose, touching hearts and fostering connections with every lyric.

Leigh Simpson-Ahwanaquot

Education-Teaching/Reconciliation/Healing/Art
Toronto, ON

Leigh Simpson-Ahwanaquot, Manager of First Peoples at Seneca, is an Indigenous healing helper, educator, and artist who guides clients toward holistic well-being using the Anishinaabe Medicine Wheel. A “Wounded Healer,” Simpson-Ahwanaquot brings over 40 years of lived Indigenous experience and 17 years of professional practice to their work. They offer a unique blend of Indigenous teachings and Western therapies to help clients learn and restore balance across the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical realms.

As a survivor of family addictions, a first-generation family member not to attend residential school, and the first openly queer member of their family, Simpson-Ahwanaquot’s journey of resilience fuels their compassionate, inclusive approach to healing. They are dedicated to empowering others to live a balanced life through Indigenous relational healing, education, and art.

Lindsey Lickers

Artist, Social Justice Advocate, Oshkabewis (Ceremonial Helper)
Six Nations, Ontario

Lindsey Lickers is an artist and community developer from Six Nations of the Grand River, with ties to Mississauga’s of the Credit First Nation. Of mixed Onkwehon (Kanien’kéha) and Anishinaabe (Ojibwe-Mississauga’s) descent, Lindsey is acclaimed for her painting, beading, and Indigenous arts facilitation. Known as ‘Mushkiiki Nibi’ (Medicine Water) of the Turtle Clan, Lindsey contributes extensively to governance, policy, and program development in Southern Ontario. She serves on several boards, including the Toronto Arts Council and Steps Public Art’s Indigenous Advisory Committees Lindsey’s impactful public arts project for Waterloo’s LRT System and leadership in reconciliation earned her accolades like the International Women’s Day Leadership in the Arts Award in 2019.

Co-founder of ‘Wayeshkadewin Tsi Tyohtáhsawe,’ she promotes land-based knowledge and healing among urban Indigenous populations. Currently, as Community Safety Liaison for the Ontario Native Women’s Association, Lindsey advocates for Indigenous women and families affected by human trafficking and cultural safety issues in Toronto and Six Nations of the Grand River, Ontario. Her commitment to Indigenous rights and community empowerment is foundational to her work.

Llyod Gwin

Métis Santa
High Level, Alberta

Lloyd Gwin first volunteered to play Santa in the 1970s and loved it. Since then, he rides around on a snowmobile delivering presents to families of his colleagues at the volunteer fire department in High Level, Alberta. Last year, he was able to fulfil his dream of being what he calls Métis Santa. A Métis Santa wears a sash rather than a belt and mittens and moccasins instead of gloves and boots. In the Metis Culture, it’s all about being grateful, thanking our Creator for the gifts of family, friends, and community and sharing the spirit of the Christmas Season.

Logan Staats

Singer-Songwriter
Six Nations, Ontario

Logan Staats, originally from Brantford, Ontario, transitioned from a Mohawk rocker to a folk and soul musician, driven by raw talent and a deep connection to his roots. After years playing the local circuit, he gained recognition with his 2015 debut album Goodbye Goldia and further success by winning CTV’s ‘The Launch’ in 2018. Despite touring North America and Europe, his focus shifted to advocating for Indigenous sovereignty, a theme deeply embedded in his music.

His sophomore album A Light In The Attic, released in 2023, embodies his philosophy of music as medicine and reclamation. Drawing from the blues and rock legacy of Six Nations, his songs offer a healing salve, crafted with introspection and compassion. Staats has earned accolades including a Juno nomination, multiple Native American Music Awards, and SOCAN Indigenous Songwriter of the Year. Today, he divides his time between Six Nations and Nashville, preparing for a third album infused with southern country influences.

Luke Swinson

Visual Artist
Kitchener, Ontario

Luke Swinson is a visual artist with Anishinaabe roots from Kitchener, Ontario. A member of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, Luke’s work reflects his desire to better understand and reclaim his Indigenous culture. He seeks to promote cultural education and preservation through his art projects.

Mariel Buckley

Musician
Timiskaming First Nation, Quebec

Mariel Buckley is a candid and genuine songwriter carving her path in country/folk music. Since her debut LP Driving In The Dark in 2018, Buckley has captivated audiences across North America with her magnetic live performances. Her latest album Everywhere I Used To Be (2022), produced by Marcus Paquin and featuring the haunting pedal steel, blends alt-folk with contemporary pop production. The collection showcases Buckley’s knack for heartfelt storytelling and cathartic melodies, backed by Canada’s top session musicians. Embracing ambiguity and defying genre norms, Buckley’s music explores themes of identity and introspection. With a deliberate approach to deconstructing and rebuilding each song, she aims for authenticity and emotional resonance. Her evolution as a trailblazing artist is evident in every track, navigating the complexities of life and love with honesty and skillful musicality. As Buckley continues to steer her creative journey, her audience eagerly joins her on a compelling ride through the landscapes of her soulful soundscapes.

Marika Sila

Actress, Content Creator
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

Marika Sila is an Inuit actress from Yellowknife, NWT. She is best known for her work on the popular TV series ‘The Twilight Zone’ where she played the lead role as Sergeant Yuka Mongoyak, the first female Inuit police officer to attain the rank of Sergeant in the state of Alaska. Marika also specializes in stunts and special skills including, hoop dancing, fire spinning, sword, and staff handling. She started her special skills journey as a hoop dancer and was recently voted Canadian Hoop Dancer of the Year. Marika is currently filming a TV series called ‘Tribal’ and is passionate about sharing their RedPath Empowerment programs to schools and communities across the world. You can watch her episode #4 of ‘The Twilight Zone’ on CBS All Access or download it on iTunes.

Maurice Switzer

Publisher, Treaties
Mississaugas of Alderville First Nation, Ontario

Maurice Switzer Bnesi is a citizen of the Mississaugas of Alderville First Nation. He is the Principal of Nimkii Communications, a public education practice which focuses on the treaty relationship between First Nations and the Canadian Government. He has served as the Director of Communications for both the Assembly of First Nations and the Union of Ontario Indians. Commissioner Switzer was also the first Indigenous publisher of a daily newspaper in Canada. He currently resides in North Bay, ON.

Megan Southwell

Dancer, Métis Jigging (Tkaronto Métis Jiggers)
Toronto, Ontario

Raised in Hampton, Ontario, Megan Southwell is Métis with historic roots from Drummond Island and Penetanguishene. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto and continues to reside on Dish with One Spoon and Treaty 13 territory. Megan has a passion for learning about her culture and history and sharing it with others through Métis jigging, decorative arts, and engaging in conversation. The youth movement that contributes to the resurgence of Métis culture continues to be a source of strength for Megan.

Michelle Joly

Musician
Edmonton, Alberta

Michelle Joly is a Canadian Métis singer-songwriter from St. Paul, Alberta, known for blending folk, jazz, soul, and roots music. Her discography includes You’re Not Alone (2011), Cold Home (2014), and Unconditional (2019). She spent nearly a decade performing on cruise ships worldwide and served as backup vocalist for Grammy winner Daniel Caesar at the 2018 Juno Awards. Michelle is also a dedicated music educator, teaching vocals, songwriting, guitar, ukulele, and piano. As of 2025, she teaches at Mayfield Long & McQuade in Edmonton. She is also a member of GEN7PATH, continuing to share her expertise while building her reputation in Canadian music.

Miesha Louie (Miesha and the Spanks)

Singer
Calgary, Alberta

Miesha Louie is a mixed-Secwépemc artist originally from the East Kootenay region of British Columbia. Best known as the front-woman for garage-rockers Miesha and The Spanks, she has toured relentlessly in Canada and abroad, with chart-topping albums and singles on Earshot, Mediabase Alternative, NACC, CBC Radio 3, and the Indigenous Music Countdown. Miesha has worked with Canadian legend Ian Blurton, as well as Danny Farrant of The Buzzcocks, and has had original music placed in Rutherford Falls, Acting Good, Fakes, andmore.

Miesha serves as Executive Director for BAM! Camp Calgary (Building Allied Music), formerly known as Girls Rock Camp Calgary, where she also mentored and organized operations for 10 years and expanded programming and opportunities for youth in music. She is also proud to have been a member of the Indigenous Advisory Committee for Breakout West.

Mimi O’Bonsawin

Singer-songwriter
Eganville, Ontario

Mimi O’Bonsawin is a contemporary roots singer-songwriter from Northeastern Ontario. Through her rhythm and story-driven songs, Mimi embraces the beauty of the land, all the while yielding to her Franco-Ontarian and Abenaki roots. In her music you will find sounds from the forest, uplifting melodies and introspective lyrics weaved with pop sensibilities and acoustic instruments. The layers of percussion and surprising harmonies make you feel the music rather than just hear it.

Her duo stage performances are honest and dynamic as she tours with her partner Ryan Schurman on drums, making it an intimate yet uplifting experience for the audience. Mimi’s album Willow, features her four singles, “Here’s to the Women”, “I am Alive”, “I Wish I Was a Farmer” and “The River”. Mimi shares, “Just like the bark of the willow tree, the making of this album has brought me so much healing. I have never felt more alive.”

Morgan Toney

Singer, Fiddler
Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

2024 JUNO-Nominated Mi’kmaq fiddler and singer Morgan Toney brings the fiery fiddling of Cape Breton Island with the old songs of the Mi’kmaq People together with brilliance and heart. First Flight, Toney’s 2023 East Coast Music Award-winning debut album, celebrates language and heritage in Toney’s transformation of traditional songs like the Ko’jua and the Mi’kmaq Honour Song alongside highly original songcraft.

Natasha Fisher

Singer/Songwriter
Toronto, Ontario

Born and raised in Northwestern Ontario, Canada, vocalist and songwriter Natasha Fisher crafts songs that take influence from both traditional pop and alternative genres carried out by edgy melodies and heartfelt storytelling. Her songs capture the intensity of heartbreak, healing, and self-discovery, while incorporating Indigenous (Anishinaabe) elements that add depth and authenticity. Natasha’s music carries a raw, emotional energy that’s both nostalgic and fresh, inviting listeners into a journey of independence, recovery, and resilience. Deeply inspired by her Indigenous culture and community, she has dedicated a significant portion of her music career to touring First Nations communities, where she performs and addresses issues related to addictions and mental health.

Nick Sherman

Musician
Thunder Bay, Ontario

When he was young, Thunder Bay based singer-songwriter and guitarist Nick Sherman’s grandfather would pick him up in the wee hours from his parents’ place in Sioux Lookout and drive up the winter highway to North Caribou Lake First Nation. It was there that Sherman accompanied his grandfather while he tended to his trapline, and where he heard his grandfather sing and play guitar. He would have been the first person Sherman ever saw sit down, pick up a guitar, play it and sing at the same time.

Fast forward nearly three decades and countless kilometres later, Sherman’s music has taken him across the country where he has performed at various events and festivals such as Ottawa Bluesfest, Vancouver Folk Festival, Luminato Festival, and more.

Sherman has a partner and two boys of his own, but a similar spirit still drives his music.

Nicola Campbell

Author
Nicola Valley, British Columbia

Nicola Campbell is Nłeʔkepmx, Syílx and Métis from the Nicola Valley, British Columbia. She is the author of five children’s books including, Shi-shi-etko,Shin-chi’s Canoe (recipient of the 2009 TD Canadian Children’s literature award) and most recently, Stand Like a Cedar (2021). Her stories weave cultural and land-based teachings while also remembering sacred responsibilities and interconnectedness to the land. Her memoir titled Spíləx̣m: A Weaving of Recovery, Resilience and Resurgence, published by Highwater Press, is a deeply moving story basket of memories that is rooted within the British Columbia landscape. With an almost tactile representation of being on the land and water, Spíləx̣m explores resilience, reconnection, and narrative memory through stories. In June 2023, Nicola graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy. Her doctoral research draws upon Indigenous storytellers and scholarship with a focus on contemporary and traditional Indigenous literary and storytelling practices.

Nimkii and the Ninis

Hoop Dance, Traditional Singing, Drumming
Oro-Medonte, Ontario

Hailing from the shores of Turtle Island, Nimkii and the Niniis (NATN) are a singing group based out of central Ontario, whose debut EP, Nang Giizhigoong, was a Juno Award nominee for Traditional Indigenous Artist of the Year at the 2022 Juno Awards. Their latest EP LFS5 (Live From Shed 5) was nominated in the same category in 2024. NATN was founded in the heat of the pandemic in 2020, as a means to support Indigenous storytellers and keep the language(s) alive through music. The band, led by Nimkii Osawamick performing traditional drumming and choral singing, brings that good feeling to the world. The group has travelled to WOMEX 2023 (World Music Expo) in Spain, showcasing the traditional sounds and stories of Turtle Island (North America). NATN also had the opportunity to sing at the Imaginative’s red carpet premiere for Marvel Studio’s new TV series ECHO.

Nyle Miigizi Johnston

Visual Artist
Toronto, Ontario

A painter, mural artist, traditional storyteller, and traditional helper, Johnston uses his gift of storytelling to connect his peoples’ stories of love and healing with the broader world. His work has been exhibited across many of Canada’s most important institutions, from the AGO and ROM to the Evergreen Brickworks and the Chippewas of Nawash Cultural Centre. His artistic practice is focused on illustrating stories of the Anishinaabe Nation in a variety of media to raise awareness of their unique histories as they in turn inform his process. He was born and raised on his beautiful reserve, Neyaashiinigmiing, on the Saugeen Peninsula (Bruce Peninsula) and took a keen interest in painting and art at a very young age.

Johnston’s original works are showcased at the AGO in the Jennings Young gallery (J.S. McLean Centre for Indigenous & Canadian Art). Johnston’s Diiyah Muh’gaanag (Our First Family) is a collection of images of spiritual beings, plants, and animals based on Anishinaabe teachings. Drawn in a pictographic style, they tell stories of botany, astrology, and the interconnectedness of all living things. Johnston currently lives in Toronto, Ontario, and is a contributing member to the Indigenous & Canadian collection at the AGO.

Orene Askew (DJ O Show)

DJ, Music Producer
Vancouver, British Columbia

Orene Askew, known as DJ O Show, is a dynamic DJ and host renowned for her vibrant energy and expertise in hip hop and R&B. Proudly Afro-Indigenous and a Squamish Nation member, Orene incorporates her cultural backgrounds into her work, emphasizing inclusivity and inspiration.

She is also an inspirational speaker, traveling nationally to motivate all generations. Orene’s resume includes hosting and DJing for major clients like The Vancouver Canucks, BC Lions, and Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week, and opening for comedy giants Kevin Hart and Russell Peters. Her accolades include a BC Indigenous Business Award, a Stand Out Award from Vancouver Pride Society, an Alumni of Excellence Award from Capilano University, and 2022 International Indigenous Hip Hop Award for DJ of the Year. Her dedication to music and community leadership makes her a standout figure in both entertainment and cultural advocacy.

Patrick Hunter

Painter, Graphic Designer
Red Lake, Ontario

Patrick Hunter, a two-spirit Ojibwe artist and entrepreneur from Red Lake, Ontario, channels his spiritual perspective into vibrant paintings and graphic designs. Influenced by the Woodland style of Norval Morrisseau, Patrick’s art reflects his deep connection to his homeland and cultural heritage.

After studying graphic design at Sault College and launching his career in Toronto, Patrick founded Patrick Hunter Art & Design in 2014. His journey began with selling original paintings online and expanded to include prints, blankets, glassware, and apparel featuring his distinctive artwork, which has garnered a global following.

Patrick envisions art as a catalyst for societal change, aiming to empower future generations by fostering cultural representation in mainstream contexts. His collaborations with notable entities such as the Olympics, Rogers Media, and the Chicago Blackhawks underscore his commitment to this mission.

Beyond corporate partnerships, Patrick dedicates himself to raising awareness of Ojibwe culture and nurturing creative confidence through paint workshops across North America. Balancing his time between Toronto, Sault Ste. Marie, and Red Lake, Patrick finds inspiration in family connections and the natural landscapes of his ancestral home.

Paul Pike

Musician, Composer
Newfoundland and Labrador

Paul Pike is a Mi’kmaq musician and composer from Western Newfoundland. . Paul and his group, Medicine Dream, have recorded three international recordings with Canyon Records and have been nominated for numerous awards at the Native American Music Awards, winning best video for his song “In This World”. Paul enjoys sharing the stories of his Mi’kmaq culture and homeland Ktaqmkuk (Newfoundland). His music has been described as “an orchestration of contemporary rock, folk, and powwow styles – truly, a revolutionary sound! From the haunting sounds of the Native American flute to the heaviest, thickest, electric guitar sounds, Paul weaves this all together in ways that elevate Indigenous music to new heights.

Peatr Thomas

Visual Artist
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Peatr Thomas is an Ininew and Anishinaabe self-taught, full-time visual artist from the Pimicikamak and Miskwewe Ziibi territories, located near the Heart of Turtle Island. Raised on reserve and later introduced to city life in the early 2000s at the age of 14 , Peatr found his voice in street art for the following 15+ years. Over the last decade, he has integrated cultural and traditional teachings into his artworks. His main focus has been on mural painting and facilitating youth workshops, with his work spanning coast to coast and overseas.

Philip Cote

Visual Artist, Activist, Ancestral Knowledge Keeper, Historical & Cultural Mediator
Toronto, Ontario

Philip Cote, from Moose Deer Point First Nation, embodies a rich tapestry of identities as a Young Spiritual Elder, Indigenous Artist, Activist, Educator, Historian, and Ancestral Knowledge Keeper. His diverse ancestry includes Shawnee, Lakota, Potawatomi, Ojibway, Algonquin, Mississauga, and Mohawk roots. As the 7th Generation Great-Grandson of Shawnee leader Tecumseh and descendant of Amelia Chechok who was pivotal in the Toronto Purchase of 1805, Philip’s lineage deeply influences his artistic and educational endeavors.

A graduate of OCAD University, Philip explores ancient communication through mural painting and oral storytelling, integrating Indigenous symbolism, ceremonies, and land-based pedagogy. His artworks, like the 1000 square foot mural “Kiinwin Dabaadjmowin” for Mississauga’s of the New Credit First Nation and the 1600 square foot “The Nindinawemaaganidok” in Toronto, amplify Indigenous teachings and cultural narratives.

Phillip Forest Lewitski

Actor
Calgary, Alberta

Phillip Forest Lewitski is most known for his series lead role in the Hulu original series Utopia Falls, his guest star role in CW’s Supernatural, and his recurring guest star role in the series finale of History Channel’s Vikings, where you meet his character ‘Wejitu.

Phillip recently wrapped a series recurring role in the Spielberg/Hanks produced Masters of the Air and a series lead in an upcoming limited series to be announced. His lead role in the feature film Wildhood, which premiered at TIFF 2021, garnered him a prestigious TIFF Rising Star recognition and is one of the highlight roles of his career to date.

Born in Canada, Phillip comes from a French, Ukrainian, and Mohawk ancestry. His heritage is a strong part of his identity, and he strives to learn and explore his cultural roots.

Qattuu

Performing Artist, Throat Singer
Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Qattuu is a singer, throat singer, songwriter, performing artist, and experimental Indigenous expressionist, who is originally from Pangnirtung, Nunavut, but currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario. Qattuu has experience performing on world stages such as Davao, Philippines, Paris, France and Belgium, as well as across Canada. She loves sharing her passion for her Inuit heritage and released her debut album entitled Midnight Sun in February 2023.

Que Rock (Quentin Commanda)

Multidisciplinary Artist
Toronto, Ontario

Que Rock (Quentin Commanda), also known by his traditional name Manitou Neeman (“Spirit Dancing”), is an Anishinaabe artist and professional muralist from Nipissing First Nation. A multifaceted talent, he is a break dancer (Bboy), emcee, writer, DJ, and filmmaker. His work blends Anishinaabe heritage with urban culture, and he is known for large street art projects that convey Indigenous knowledge and sacred symbolism. His notable works include the Daniels Mural Project, an inaugural Indigenous installation for the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture.

Beyond his art, Que Rock is dedicated to community empowerment, offering over 20 unique youth workshops across First Nations communities and schools. With over two decades of involvement in hip-hop culture, he continues to engage in both recording and writing music. His artistic focus now includes traditional painting, where he aims to inspire through both cultural expression and urban art.

Quinn Hopkins

Artist
Toronto, Ontario

Quinn Hopkins, also known by his Anishinaabe name Nigaan Noodin, is an artist who calls Toronto, Turtle Island, his home. Through Noodin Studio, he explores the delicate balance between traditional Indigenous perspectives and contemporary digital mediums. A graduate of OCAD University in Drawing and Painting, Quinn’s journey has been one of constant exploration and gentle innovation, drawing on early influences from the Woodland style as well as figures like Andy Warhol.

At the intersection of his Anishinaabe, Métis, and European heritage, Quinn delves into the realm of Indigenous Futurism. His work modestly aspires to add to the cultural resurgence among Ojibwe, Anishinaabe, and Métis peoples, imagining futures where traditions not only survive but thrive.

Rabbit Stew

4-piece Indigenous Rock Band
Kitigan Zibi, Quebec

Rabbit Stew are a 4-piece Indigenous rock band from the Algonquin territory of Kitigan Zibi, Quebec. The band formed in 2023 after getting together to jam some tunes and immediately it clicked. Hailed as Kitigan Zibi’s most rocking band, they have played events from Kitigan Zibi to Ottawa and are working on original music and recording an EP. Their unique brand of entertainment fuses rock and roll with feel good vibes that will make you want to bob your head, tap your feet, and shake your tailfeather. The band consists of Mike Miljour on vocals and harmonica, Corey “Kashew” Twenish on bass guitar and backing vocals, Steve Descarie on drums and backing vocals, and Cory Whiteduck on guitar and backing vocals.

Reuben Bullock (Reuben and the Dark)

Singer
Calgary, Alberta

Reuben and the Dark, led by Calgary-bred Reuben Bullock, epitomizes spirited folk-rock, blending introspective lyrics with band harmonies. Their third studio album, “un | love”, delves into Bullock’s personal turmoil, offering poignant insights at life’s crossroads. Through cathartic performances, the band’s music navigates emotional depths, resonating deeply with audiences. Produced with Marcus Paquin and Kevin Drew, “un | love” showcases raw emotion, revealing Bullock’s unbridled voice and profound vulnerability. With longstanding bandmates Brock Geiger, Sam Harrison, Brendan “Dino” Soares, and Nathan Da Silva, the album’s kinetic energy shines in songs like “rising” and “faultline,” reflecting personal growth and resilience. Reuben and the Dark’s dynamic performances and lyrical depth create an alchemy connecting listeners to collective emotions, echoing Bullock’s artistic vision of shared human experience.

Rhonda Head

Opera Singer
Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Manitoba

Rhonda Head, a Mezzo-Soprano vocalist from Opaskwayak Cree Nation in northern Manitoba, released her fourth album, “Waniska,” on September 9, 2023. The album is a deeply emotional and spiritual journey dedicated to her late brother. The album’s Cree title means “to rise up or awaken,” reflecting themes of loss and rediscovered happiness.

Rhonda Head has garnered numerous awards, including two PLATINUM Lit Music Awards for Best Vocal, Best Collaboration for “Feathers” in 2024, and Best Inspirational Music and Best Female Vocal for “Waniska.” Her accolades also include a Global Music Award for Best Female Vocal for “Time Goes On” in 2024 and recognition for her music videos and impactful songs like “Island Dreams,” “Music is The Medicine,” and “500 Years,” which received accolades for their social impact and protest themes.

Rhonda’s career highlights include performances at prestigious venues like New York’s Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, as well as her involvement in the GRAMMY Awards and SOCAN as a board member. Recognized for her resilience and leadership in the music industry, Rhonda Head continues to inspire with her soul-stirring lyrics and profound cultural impact.

Robbie Harper

Photographer, Musician

Toronto, Ontario

Robbie Harper is a talent photographer and musician.  A member of St Theresa Point First Nation, Robbie lives in Toronto where he shares his talents at community, corporate, and school events.

Rollin Baldhead

Indigenous Consultant, Educator
Toronto, Ontario

Rollin Baldhead is Cree from One Arrow First Nations. He has a Bachelor of Education degree and has been to Indigenous communities across the country teaching, facilitating workshops, and public speaking. He now uses his degree and skills that he’s learned from his family, friends, and life experiences to teach both in the classroom and on the land. To Baldhead, land-based learning is of utmost importance, and he strives to provide this in everything that he teaches.

Ryan Gorrie

Designer
Calgary, Alberta

Ryan Gorrie has been integral to Brook McIlroy, an architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, planning, and Indigenous place making firm, since 2009, starting with his involvement in the award-winning Spirit Garden in Thunder Bay. By 2016, he officially joined the firm, assuming leadership of the Winnipeg office and the Indigenous Design Studio. Hailing from Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek (Sand Point First Nation), Ryan is committed to preserving Indigenous culture through various creative endeavors, from traditional ceremonial crafts to expansive landmark architecture. He holds an architecture license in Manitoba.

Ryan gained international recognition when his work was featured in UNCEDED: Voices of the Land at the Venice Biennale in 2018, alongside 17 other Indigenous architects and designers from Turtle Island. His contributions have earned acclaim from esteemed bodies like the Ontario Association of Architects, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, and Ontario Wood Works.

Dedicated to enhancing Indigenous representation in design, Ryan actively promotes Indigenous suppliers in Brook McIlroy’s projects and mentors Indigenous students and young designers within the firm. His career exemplifies a steadfast commitment to integrating Indigenous perspectives and practices into contemporary architectural landscapes.

Sandra Sutter

Recording Artist, Songwriter, Public Speaker, Indigenous Community Industry Liaison
Calgary, Alberta

Sandra Sutter is a multi award-winning Métis recording artist, songwriter, musician, poet, and filmmaker who writes, records, and performs in multiple genres encompassing roots music including Native Americana, folk, country, pop, jazz, blues, and rock.

Raised in a loving non-Indigenous family, Sandra affirmed and embraced her ancestral and cultural roots later in life. Honouring her Indigeneity is important to a woman whose birth heritage was hidden. Her life journey in both the non-Indigenous and Indigenous worlds has given her a unique perspective and opportunity to bring people together through her songs of reconciliation, sharing stories about the culture, history, challenges, strength, beauty, and resilience of Indigenous Peoples.

Sandra is currently working on a new album after participating last summer in the TD Artist in Residence Program at MacEwan University. Sandra’s 2023 YYCMA nominated single, “Midnight Serenade”, will be the anchor for Shadow Stories.

Sandra is the Indigenous Partnerships Manager for PTW Energy and serves on several boards and committees across Canada. In 2019 Sandra was recognized by WXN as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada.

Santee Smith

Artist, Creative Director/Producer, Artistic Director Kahawi Dance Theatre, 19th Chancellor McMaster University
Six Nations, Ontario

Santee Smith is a multidisciplinary artist from the Kahnyen’kehàka Nation, Six Nations. She trained at Canada’s National Ballet School, completed Physical Education and Psychology degrees from McMaster University and a Dance MA from York University. Santee premiered her inaugural work Kaha:wi in 2004 and later founded Kaha:wi Dance Theatre which has grown into an internationally renowned company. Her body of work includes 14 productions and numerous short works and collaborations. She is a sought-after teacher and speaker on Indigenous performance and culture. Through embodied storytelling and performance her work speaks to Indigenous identity and continuance. Smith is the 19th Chancellor of McMaster University.

Sara Cornthwaite

Film and Content Creator
Toronto, Ontario

Sara Dawn Nungos Cornthwaite is a content creator from Nipissing First Nation and is currently living and working in Toronto. She is a cinematographer and photographer, helping to bring projects full circle with editing and animating. With over nine years of professional experience, she frequents television sets and broadcast productions, along with solo videography and documentary work.

With a love for people and travel, her work has taken her around the world. Often travelling as a solo camera operator, she documents stories from a global perspective. She’s also taken her passion back home to work with her community to share important stories and teachings.

Her content has been featured online and in television programming, across radio platforms, digital billboards, and concert arenas. Her photography has been published in branded packaging, books, magazines, newspaper, and digital articles across North America. Sara strives to tell meaningful stories in a beautiful way.

Sebastian Gaskin

Singer-songwriter
Toronto, Ontario

How does an emotional aftermath evolve into an epiphany? For award-winning Toronto-based, Tataskweyak Cree Nation multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter and producer Sebastian Gaskin, first, he gets comfortable with the outcome, then gets to work sculpting his experience into a song. It’s the mark of an artist unafraid to look deeply into themselves— in the process, creating a sonic offering designed to embrace our many broken pieces, while reminding us that love and vulnerability are acts of resistance.

Intentionally genre amorphous, Gaskin’s music lends itself to a bold intuition and gut instinct. At once, conjuring the timeless spirit of Bill Withers and the musical virtuosity of John Mayer, with the mischievous wordplay of Post Malone and Pro Era. A dynamic producer and arranger, Gaskin’s ear for collaboration (and an undeniable earworm) has led them to work with Evan Miles (dvsn, renforshort) and Milano (Icona Pop) to reimagine the potential of each genre they explore. Racking up 500,000+ streams across Canada and playing venues and festival stages around the world, he’s supported artists ranging from Common to T-Pain. Sebastian’s forthcoming debut album will be released on the Indigenous-owned music company, Ishkōdé Records and Universal Music Canada.

Semiah Smith

Musician
Six Nations, Ontario

Semiah is a singer/songwriter from Six Nations, Ontario. She began professionally singing traditional music from her Haudenosaunee heritage in her late teens in solo performances and as a member of the singing trio, Hatiyo (the good voice). At the same time, she also began writing songs in English, however had never published any of her contemporary works until her first single, ‘Nothing Can Kill My Love for You’ debuted on May 14th, 2021. Semiah continues to challenge herself in her song writing to explore the nuances of identity, love, and the growing pains of her twenties.

Shadow Colomb (Shadow Xtreme)

Professional Wrestler
Pukatawagan, Manitoba

Shadow Colomb, AKA Shadow Xtreme, is from Mathias Colomb Cree Nation -Pukatawagan, Manitoba. Shadow was trained by International Wrestling Star Rob Stardom in 2008 and has pursued a long career in professional wrestling since then. Shadow has journeyed across Canada entertaining crowds with his technical and high-flying wrestling action in the ring. It wasn’t until 2013 that Shadow saw an empty spotlight in professional wrestling and officially begun the FIRST EVER 100% First Nations owned wrestling company, known as Northern Empire Wrestling, whereby he continues to travel across Canada with Live Wrestling Events and Anti-Bullying Workshops. Shadow and the crew on these shows work closely with the youth in each community to promote positive and healthy life choices. As a First Nations person, he understands the experiences growing up in the reservation and made a goal to inspire and give hope to First Nations youth across Canada. Shadow works very hard to motivate everyone around him to try something new in their daily lives such as creating Northern Empire Wrestling.

Shane Kjick (Kelsey)

Multidisciplinary Artist
Toronto, Ontario

Shane Kejick (Kelsey) is a multidisciplinary artist, creating through different mediums such as hip hop and music production, filmmaking, and design. After studying wardrobe and set design, Shane found a passion for men’s fashion design. After seeing there wasn’t much Indigenous designer apparel available, he decided to research and start his brand Neechi By Nature. His goal is to create space for the urban Indigenous community and experience through fashion and streetwear design.

Sharifah Marsden

Visual Artist, Jeweler
Keremeos, British Columbia

Sharifah Marsden is a traditionally and classically trained multifaceted Indigenous artist. She is a graduate of the University of Victoria (Indigenous Fine Arts), Vancouver Metal Arts School (Goldsmith Program), Native Education College (Jewelry Design & Art of Regalia Program), Langara College (Fine Arts Program), Touch of Culture (Fashion Design Program), Trent University, and Vancouver’s Northwest Coast Jewellery Arts Program under established Haida/Kwakwaka’wakw artist Dan Wallace.  

In 2010, Sharifah collaborated with Richard Shorty, Jerry Whitehead, and others to complete Western Canada’s largest mural on the outer wall of the Orwell Hotel in Vancouver. As the founder of Silver Feather, she is an esteemed goldsmith crafting one-of-a-kind wedding bands and heirlooms, bringing a distinctive feminine essence to metal arts. Her paintings reflect her early training in the Woodland style and centre the often-untold stories of women, children, and the LGBTQ+ community. 

Her work “Heartberry Gatherers” greets visitors at UBC Hospital’s Surgical Wing, her Beadwork Series is displayed at Edmonton University Hospital, and her Tipi Painting Project engaged over 700 students across 28 Vancouver schools. As a Traditional & Fine Arts Facilitator and former Jewelry Arts Instructor at the Native Education College, Sharifah upholds and honours her traditions of community, storytelling, and celebration. 

Sharon Shorty

Performer, Storyteller, Comedian
Whitehorse, Yukon

Sharon Shorty, a prominent figure from Tlingit, Northern Tutchone, and Norwegian heritage, is celebrated for her storytelling prowess rooted in the Raven Clan traditions of southern Yukon. Known for her character “Grandma Susie,” Sharon shares traditional tales alongside humorous anecdotes about encounters with Colonel Sanders and adventures in New York City.

Teaming up with Duane Ghastant’ Aucoin as “Gramma Susie and Cash Creek Charlie,” Sharon and Duane captivate audiences with their dynamic performances. Sharon also excels as a playwright, crafting narratives like “Trickster Visits the Old Folks Home,” which reflect her community’s experiences.

Her contributions extend to television as a story producer, focusing on arts and culture. Sharon’s accolades include the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for public service, Aurora Awards for acting and storytelling, and recognition for her bannock-making skills. Her influence reaches far, from residencies at Vancouver Public Library to promoting Indigenous arts through SYANA Performing Arts in the Yukon.

Currently residing in her ancestral territory, Sharon continues to enrich her community by preserving and sharing traditional stories and cultural teachings.

Shawnee Kish

Singer
St Albert, Alberta

Shawnee Kish is an Indigenous singer-songwriter whose music blends country, soul, and roots storytelling with raw honesty and emotional depth. Based in Alberta, she stepped into the country music space with her debut album in 2025, quickly making waves for her powerful vocals and authentic songwriting. 

Her debut release earned national recognition, adding to her accolades as a four-time JUNO Award nominee. In 2026, she was nominated for Female Artist of the Year at the Country Music Alberta Awards — a rare and impressive feat for a debut country artist. Shawnee’s songs explore love, identity, resilience, and healing, delivered with a commanding presence that connects deeply with audiences. 

With growing national attention and undeniable momentum, Shawnee Kish is quickly establishing herself as one of Canada’s most compelling new voices in country music. 

ShoShona Kish

Musician
Ontario

ShoShona Kish is a prominent Anishinaabekwe community organizer, producer, activist, and award-winning artist. Leading the band Digging Roots with her husband Raven Kanatakta, she blends global and traditional Indigenous sounds with roots, blues, and soul, defying categorization. ShoShona’s musical journey is a catalyst for change, recognized internationally with awards like the Spirit of Folk Award and WOMEX’s Professional Excellence Award for her role in Indigenous cultural resurgence.

Beyond music, ShoShona is a leader in Indigenous music advocacy, founding the International Indigenous Music Summit and Ishkōdé Records. She serves on the Music Canada Advisory Council, leveraging her platform to address pressing social issues through art. Guided by curiosity and purpose, ShoShona uses music as a powerful call to action, challenging colonial definitions and inspiring connection and change worldwide.

Siibii

Singer-songwriter
Mistissini Cree Nation, Quebec

Siibii (Angel Baribeau) is a queer, non-binary singer-songwriter and recycle artist from the Cree Nation of Mistissini in northern Quebec. Their debut solo album For Those I Love(d) reached the top 3 on Apple Music Pop Canada charts, and their single “Wish We Were Older” hit No. 1 on NCI FM National Indigenous Music Countdown on SiriusXM Canada. Siibii won Canada’s Walk of Fame RBC Emerging Musician Award in 2021, leading to a second showcase at the Cameron House in Toronto.

Changing their name to Siibii was a pivotal part of reclaiming their identity and connecting more deeply with their Cree heritage. They explained, “I carried [my previous name], but it doesn’t have the same meaning for me as it does for my father. Having a name [Siibii] that reflects where I come from and who I am has a lot more personal significance.” Siibii embraces this new chapter, aiming to represent Eeyou Istchee (Cree territory in Quebec) proudly through their music and performances, with “Siibii” meaning “river” in Cree, a connection they cherish.

Starlit Simon

Creative Writing, Porcupine Quill and Land-based Art, Storytelling
Fredericton, New Brunswick

Starlit Simon, a Mi’kmaq from Elsipogtog First Nation, is a PhD student at the University of New Brunswick’s Faculty of Education. She holds degrees in Sociology and Journalism from UNB and Saint Thomas University, and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the University of King’s College. Her creative work has been featured in publications like National Geographic Traveler and The Fiddlehead, while her academic writing appears in various journals and books. Starlit’s research focuses on “Two-Eyed Seeing” (Etuaptmumk) and wellness through art in digital and physical spaces, for which she received the SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship in 2022. An artist known for her porcupine quill artwork, she has exhibited at galleries such as the Saint John Arts Centre and UNB Arts Centre. Starlit has been awarded the Arts NB Equinox Program (2020–2023) and participated in multiple cultural residencies and academic conferences.

Stephanie Bellefleur

Visual Artist

Peepeekisis Cree Nation, Saskatchewan

Stephanie Bellefleur is a Venezuelan-born contemporary visual artist and arts administrator with expertise in public art and placemaking. Since arriving to Canada as a baby, she has been living and working in Indigenous communities across the country. Her commitment to being in good relations with the land and Indigenous communities she’s involved in drive her artistic practice. Through The Haus of Bellefleur, she aims to make art accessible while celebrating diversity and honouring respectful protocols for Indigenous engagement as a settler on this land. Her works incorporate bold colours and graphic lines, reflecting the organic process of life and healing. Stephanie continues to create large-scale murals across Saskatchewan and works as an Artist-in-Residence at Chief Payepot School. She currently resides on Peepeekisis Cree Nation.

Stephanie Harpe

Musician, Advocate for MMIWG2S+
Fort McKay First Nation, Alberta

Stephanie Harpe, a proud member of Fort McKay First Nation, identifies as Cree, Dene, and Métis. Her career includes roles such as former Community Outreach Coordinator at the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women (IAAW), where she facilitated support groups and served as National Representative for Aboriginalalert.ca.

Stephanie’s life experiences deeply influence her humanitarian efforts; she is a survivor of the residential school system and an attempted murder. Her mother, Ruby Anne McDonald, was murdered, and Stephanie is the niece of Historical Chief Dorothy McDonald of Fort McKay First Nations.

In 2019, Stephanie toured 31 Indigenous communities in western Canada as an advocate for Murdered, Missing, and Exploited Indigenous People with the Safety and Wellness Super Clinic. She has spoken at the National Models United Nations International Conference and delivered a TEDx Talk titled “Indigenous Suffering and Survival to Success.”

Stewart Gonzales

Elder
North Vancouver, British Columbia

I am a survivor of St Paul’s Indian Day School from 1966-1968 and Sechelt Residential School from 1968-1971. Born and raised on Eslha7an Reservation in North Vancouver, BC. Both my parents are Residential School survivors as both set of grandparents. My late wife was also a Residential School survivor, so our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren are inter-generational survivors.

Strong Water Singers

Singing and Drumming Collective
Niagara, Ontario

Established in 2015, Strong Water Singers is an Indigenous led collective with members across the Niagara Region. They utilize drumming as a means to achieve wellness and balance. One of the main focuses of the group is decolonizing and redefining Sisterhood, with an emphasis being placed on the implementation of our Original Teachings: Truth, Love, Honesty, Wisdom, Respect, Bravery and Humility. They are Pride Niagara’s ”Performance of the Year” award winners for both 2017 and 2022. They call the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre home every Wednesday evening as they gather to share their love and medicine with each other and their community.

Suzette Amaya

Entrepreneur, Radio Producer and Host
Vancouver, British Columbia

Suzette Amaya, a proud member of the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw – Cree, Nisga’a, and Coast Salish of the GwaSala-Nakwaxda’xw Nation, resides in Vancouver on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples. Known as an “Indigenous Entertainment Auntie,” Suzette has made significant contributions since 1997, including appearances on reality TV shows like Big Brother Canada Season One and SEQUESTER 5.0, where she emerged as the winner.

A prominent figure in media, Suzette was the former Hip Hop Host for CBC Radio 3 AB-ORIGINALS and currently hosts the award-winning radio show ThinkNDN on CFRO 100.5fm. She owns SAMAYA Entertainment, curating and producing concerts, festivals, and conferences while supporting Indigenous artists. Alongside her husband DJ Stanley, she manages her brand as a public speaker and influencer.

Beyond entertainment, Suzette is deeply involved in community service, having worked for over 19 years in Women’s & Children’s and Youth Shelters in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. She advocates for harm reduction, mental health support, and addressing systemic barriers, reflecting her commitment to giving voice to urban Indigenous communities through platforms like her new YouTube show, Suzette Amaya TV.

Sylvia Lily

Author/Singer-Song Writer
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Sylvia Lily is a songwriter and author of Vuntut Gwitchin, Trinidadian, and Canadian descent. A creative advocate at heart, she believes we all carry creativity within us—waiting for the right moment to bloom. As an indie-pop singer-songwriter, Sylvia’s music blends emotion and storytelling. Her single “Yukon Lost” reflects her father’s adoption and their shared journey of reconnecting with their Vuntut Gwitchin roots. Another notable track, “Wine Witch,” is a whimsical and soulful collaboration with her musical and life partner, Calm Canopy. Sylvia is also the author of the Canadian drama/horror novel Evergreen Peaks, a chilling story set in a haunted Ontario forest where a tree-planting program turns sinister. The novel is accompanied by the Evergreen Peaks EP, weaving her musical and literary worlds together. She also wrote the heartfelt children’s book Kindness Follows, continuing her mission to inspire and uplift through storytelling.

Tanya Tagaq

Actor, Author, Musician 

Toronto, Ontario 

From Ikaluktutiak (Cambridge Bay, Nunavut), internationally celebrated artist Tanya Tagaq is an improvisational singer, avant-garde composer, and bestselling author. A member of the Order of Canada, Polaris Music Prize and JUNO Award winner, and recipient of multiple honorary doctorates, Tagaq is an original disruptor, a world-changing figure at the forefront of seismic social, political, and environmental change.

Tanya Talaga

Author
Toronto, Ontario

Tanya Talaga, of Anishinaabe and Polish descent, lives in Toronto but proudly identifies as a member of Fort William First Nation, where her mother’s roots lie. A celebrated author and journalist, Talaga gained national acclaim for her book Seven Fallen Feathers, which won multiple awards including the RBC Taylor Prize and CBC’s Nonfiction Book of the Year. Her extensive career includes being the Atkinson Fellow in Public Policy, the CBC Massey Lecturer, and a columnist at the Globe and Mail after more than two decades at the Toronto Star.

She continues to amplify Indigenous voices through Makwa Creative, her production company focusing on documentaries and podcasts. In 2021, she founded the Spirit to Soar Fund to support First Nations youth in northern Ontario. Talaga’s book, The Knowing, delves into her family’s experience with residential schools. With five honorary doctorates, Talaga remains a prominent advocate for Indigenous rights and storytelling.

Tara Francis

Artist
Shediac, New Brunswick

Tara Francis is a Mi’kmaw artist from Elsipogtog First Nation, specializing in porcupine quillwork, silk painting, and acrylic painting. She studied at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, where she also taught the traditional Mi’kmaq style of porcupine quillwork. Tara brings a contemporary edge to her quillwork that has elevated her to international recognition. Her work can be found in public and private collections around the globe, including the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, the Smithsonian Affiliated Abbe Museum and most recently, a commission from the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick that was gifted to his majesty King Charles III. Tara is the Chair of Mawi’art: Wabanaki Arts Collective, dedicated to advancing artists and art styles of Wabanaki Territory. Tara has taught quillwork throughout Atlantic Canada and Maine. She has also received several grants and has had her writing published in art magazines.

Teagan de Laronde

Dancer, Métis Jigging
Toronto, Ontario

Teagan de Laronde (she/her) is a citizen of Red Sky Métis Independent Nation with familial roots from Drummond Island and Pentanguishene. Teagan helps to lead storytelling tours across Toronto with First Story Toronto and serves on the Indigenous Education Council for George Brown College. She is a member of the Tkaronto Métis Jiggers and shares her Métis teachings with communities throughout Canada.

The Hello Crows

Musicians

Fredericton, New Brunswick

Emerging from the rich cultural landscape of their Wabanaki homeland, New Brunswick, The Hello Crows are a powerful Indigenous collective whose songs and stories are rooted in personal experience, resilience, and a deep connection to their communities and culture. Formed in 2022 when Judie Acquin, Quinn Bonnell, Mattie Comeau, and Dylan Ward first performed together at a Wabanaki Songwriter Circle, the group quickly discovered a creative chemistry blending traditional and contemporary influences. 

Their 2024 debut single, “Come Back to Me,” an anthem for language reclamation on Canada Day, resonated widely for its authenticity and message. It reached the top 10 on the National Indigenous Chart and earned the 2025 Song of the Year at the Music/Musique New Brunswick Awards. The band continued gaining momentum with standout performances at Stanfest, Area 506, Contact East, and a special collaboration with The Olympic Symphonium at the Fredericton Playhouse for National Truth and Reconciliation Day. 

Through fall and winter 2024, The Hello Crows recorded their debut album at Ward’s Shiftwork Recording. Released September 30, 2025, it became the first album from Castle Records, the Maritimes’ first Indigenous label founded by Tristan Grant (Wolf Castle). With every note, lyric, and chant, The Hello Crows highlight the strength of Indigenous identity, the power of storytelling, and the deep bond between music and culture. 

The North Sound

Band
Treaty 7, Alberta

The North Sound is ever-changing with lyrics spanning across haunting metaphors and a sound balanced between today’s modern production and the era of Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris blazing the highways. The group was formed in 2014 by lead singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Forrest Eagle speaker with his partner Nevada Frei Stadt supplying harmonies. The North Sound was created to share stories in keeping with Forrest’s Blackfoot identity and traditions from Treaty 7 Territory. The North Sound has had four singles reach #1on the Indigenous Music Countdown as well as Saskatchewan’s MBC Radio, has won the Saskatchewan Music Award for Indigenous Artist of the Year, was nominated for Roots Album of the Year at the 2021 Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards, and has received three nominations from the Saskatchewan Country Music Awards. Forrest and Nevada also have a working relationship with JUNO-winner Crystal Shawanda and her partner Dewayne Grobel, owners of independent record label New Sun Music. Sharing the stage with the likes of Blue Rodeo, Kathleen Edwards, Eagle and Hawk, Derek Miller, Susan Aglukark, Caleigh Cardinal, Logan Stats, and many more, The North Sound has performed at multiple venues and festivals across Canada and the United States. Most recently they performed on APTN’s Indigenous Day Live 2021.Scott Roos from Exclaim! says The North Sound’s latest album, As the Stars Explode, “offers afresh take, both musically and lyrically” and “takes a different route compared to the usual country music norms that at times stifle the genre, and it really works.”

The Poets/Vic Linklater

Singer Hip Cover Band
Moose Factory, Ontario

The Poets are a band that is based in Moose Factory / Moosonee in northern Ontario.   They first got their start in 2018 at local community art and music festival called The Gathering of Our People.

Band members include guitarists Clint Hamilton, Rob Carter, bassist Jon Kapashesit, keys Oscar Hamilton, drummer Paul Chakasim and rounding it off is lead singer Vic Linklater.

All the guys reside in Moose Factory and Moosonee.   Vic saw an opportunity to start something to support Gord Downie’s cause of reconciliation in the wonderful unity that is the Downie Wenjack Fund.

The band continued into 2021 and beyond with their passion for building bridges and creating partnerships with Indigenous and non-indigenous people and communities across Ontario in the spirit of Gord, Chanie and reconciliation.

Theland Kicknosway

Hoop Dancer, TikTok Star
Ottawa, Ontario

Theland Kicknosway is an Indigenous youth who uses his voice to spread his message and showcase Indigenous culture. He is Wolf Clan from the Potawatomi and Cree Nations and is a member of Walpole Island, Bkejwanong Territory. Theland has gained recognition in the Indigenous community and worldwide as a traditional singer, drummer, dancer, activist, and influencer. In 2018, Theland became the youngest Indspire Laureate named for Culture, Heritage, and Spirituality. His path-breaking efforts have been highlighted by Nike, Disney, BBC, and have also been mentioned in Teen Vogue, Entertainment Tonight, and Complex.

Thunder Jack

Cultural and Traditions Instructor, Dancer

Scarborough, ON

Thunder Jack (spirit name “Good Words”) is Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee, from Whitefish Bay ON and Oneida Nation of the Thames. A Bear Clan member, proud father, and Knowledge Keeper, Thunder shares Indigenous identity and culture through language, dance, drumming, ceremony, and pow wow.

Raised with Traditional Teachings from both Nations, Thunder attends Sweat Lodge regularly and learned grass dancing with his champion dancer brother. He dances to honor Ancestors and those unable to dance, while creating beautiful traditional pieces with feathers and beads. As a member of Smoke Trail Singers and lead singer for All Nations Singers, Thunder is also a champion dancer who has placed at pow wows across Turtle Island.

Currently, Thunder serves as Cultures and Traditions Instructor at Toronto District School Board’s Urban Indigenous Education Centre, working alongside the Elders Council. With extensive criminal justice experience in youth education and employment services, Thunder dedicates himself to supporting Indigenous communities through Traditional ways of being and knowing.

Tom Wilson

Singer-songwriter
Hamilton, Ontario

Tom Wilson, known by his Indigenous name tehohåhake (two roads), is a prominent Canadian musician, songwriter, storyteller, and visual artist. His memoir Beautiful Scars, published by Penguin/Random House, became a national bestseller and shares his journey of discovering his Indigenous heritage. Wilson is renowned for his musical contributions with Blackie & The Rodeo Kings and Lee Harvey Osmond, the latter winning a 2020 Juno Award for the album Mohawk.

In 1989, Wilson founded the rock band Junkhouse, which gained rapid popularity and signed with Sony Music Canada in 1993. Lead by Wilson, Junkhouse released three albums—Strays, Birthday Boy, and Fuzz—before disbanding The band influenced many artists in Hamilton. Wilson’s solo career began with Planet Love (2001) under Sony Music.

Alongside music, Wilson developed a passion for painting, showcased in exhibitions like “Beautiful Scars: Mohawk Warriors, Hunters and Chiefs” at the Art Gallery of Burlington. His commissioned work, “The Mystic Highway,” commemorates Hamilton’s musical legacy on John Street. Wilson’s multifaceted artistry continues to resonate, blending storytelling, music, and visual expression in profound ways.

Trevaun Robinson

Photographer, Artist
Toronto, Ontario

Trey Robinson is a talented Afro-Indigenous artist hailing from the vibrant city of Toronto, Ontario. While his artistic journey encompasses various mediums, Trey’s creativity has flourished in the realms of photography, painting, and graphic design. In his pursuit of artistic excellence, Trey has worked relentlessly to obtain gallery representation. Trey’s journey into the creative world has taken a lot of dedication and artistic practice, and he is set to make waves in the world of contemporary art.

Troy Kokol

Musician, Producer, Audio Engineering, Publishing, Animation
Calgary, Alberta

Troy Kokol is a versatile Canadian artist celebrated as a singer, producer, animator, and prolific songwriter with over 250 compositions across various genres, TV, and film. He’s earned prestigious accolades including a SOCAN Award for Country Music and two-time CCMA Songwriter of the Year nominee. His songwriting prowess shines through collaborations with notable artists like Hayley Jensen, Brett Kissel, and Shane Yellowbird, achieving significant chart success.

As a solo artist, Troy’s second studio album Lonely Ghost garnered attention, earning him nominations at the Indigenous Music Awards and winning Songwriter of the Year at the YYC Music Awards in 2018 and 2020. His duo, Scarlett Butler, secured the Songwriter of the Year award at the 2022 CMAB Awards for their Billboard Top 50 hit “Looking For a Lockdown with You”.

Operating from his Calgary studio, Troy has produced and engineered albums for a diverse range of artists including Jerry Sereda, Michelle Wright, and Australia’s Hayley Jensen, whose album topped the ARIA Country Album charts in 2021. His multifaceted career continues to thrive in both creative and production roles within the music industry.

Vern Cheechoo

Singer-songwriter, recording artist
Timmins, Ontario

Vern Cheechoo is a proud member of Moose Cree First Nation from Moose Factory, Ontario, who now resides in Timmins, Ontario. He began playing guitar at six, self-taught by emulating his brothers. By eight, he was performing in talent shows under his father’s guidance. Vern’s music career spans prestigious venues like Mariposa Music Festival, Massey Hall, and North Dakota Arena, sharing stages with Bruce Cockburn, Indigo Girls, and others.

He has three solo albums, starting with Lonesome and Hurting in 1993. The title track from this album was featured on CBS’s “Northern Exposure” and in the film “Dance Me Outside”. His subsequent releases earned Juno Award nominations in 2000 and 2003, and he won Best Produced Album at the 2000 Aboriginal Music Awards. Vern cherishes his fans and continues performing passionately, driven by his love for music and connecting with audiences.

Violent Ground

Rap Group
Naskapi Nation, Quebec

Allan and Christian Nabinacaboo are brothers from the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach, a small community in the northern borderlands of Quebec and Labrador, and are founders of the rap group, Violent Ground. The group’s name is inspired by the history of the land we live on, and issues Indigenous people face, such as drug addiction, alcoholism, colonialism, racism, crimes, and violence. They want to give a voice to all native people through their music. They are composers and lyricists who aim to enlighten and inspire crowds with powerful lyrics and their unique brand of music.

Violet Gatensby

Artist
Carcross, Yukon

Violet Gatensby is an inland Tlingit artist from the Carcross/Tagish First Nation. Born into a large family, she spent much of her childhood on the land. She explored art as a youth and was supported by community mentors like Keith Wolfe Smarch and Claudia Mcphee, and later by Dempsey Bob, Ken McNeil, Stan Bevan, and Arlene Ness. Violet went to art school in British Columbia and holds an advanced diploma from the First Nations Fine Arts program at the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art. A versatile and talented artist, Violet’s preferred medium is wood, but she also enjoys metalwork, designing, and painting. She has completed an astounding number of major commissions for a young artist, including a carved panel for the Yukon Supreme Court, public utility artworks for the City of Whitehorse, and a dugout canoe apprenticeship with Wayne Price. Violet has been deeply influenced by the values of her parents and grandparents – stay connected to the land, have an open mind, be teachable – and she brings these influences into her art and the contemporary world. An articulate leader and community force, Violet is one of the North’s rising talents.

Waubgeshig Rice

Author
Sudbury, Ontario

Waubgeshig Rice grew up in Wasauksing First Nation on the shores of Georgian Bay, in the southeast of Robinson-Huron Treaty territory. He is a writer, listener, speaker, language learner, and a martial artist, holding a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is the author of the short story collection Midnight Sweatlodge and the novels Legacy, Moon of the Crusted Snow, and Moon of the Turning Leaves. He appreciates loud music and the four seasons. He lives in Sudbury, Ontario with his wife and three sons.

Wayne McKenzie

Artist
Timiskaming First Nation, Quebec

Kwey kwey, Wahjay, I am Algonquin / Cree from Timiskaming First Nation. My workshops and inspirational talks are a culmination of what I have learned through various life experiences. In 1992 I went to a native treatment center in Thunder Bay. There I learned the Anishnabe way of life, and how to live without drugs and alcohol. Several years went by and a couple of artist friends taught me how to paint and stretch canvas. This started me on another new journey where I began selling art across North America and parts of Europe. I took a break from creating art and worked in the mines in Northern Ontario for a few years, later transitioning into a position as elected Chief of Timiskaming First Nation. After stepping aside from the 2019 summer election, I picked up my paint brushes again. I find painting to be therapeutic and enlightening.

Meegwetch.

Wesley Hardisty

Fiddler
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

Wesley Hardisty, from the Dene First Nation in the Northwest Territories, is a fiddler and composer whose music blends rock, country, folk, Celtic, Métis, and Traditional sounds. His passionate playing is compelling to watch and his love of music evident. Largely self-taught, he took up the fiddle at age thirteen in Fort Simpson through the outreach work of the Kole Crook Fiddle Association. He attended the prestigious Gulf Islands School of Performing Arts on Saltspring Island, BC. His debut CD 12:12 won the 2012 Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Award for Best Fiddle CD. Wesley creates emotionally evocative music and is a soulful musician and inspiring young man.

Whitehorse

Band
Toronto, Ontario

Since their debut in 2011, Toronto’s Whitehorse has evolved from magnetic folk duo to full-blown rock band. In truth, Whitehorse is never fully either one or the other, but an ever-evolving creative partnership between Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet. As five consecutive JUNO nominations in four categories attest, whether it be a holiday album or reworked blues covers or pop noir album, Whitehorse rises to every challenge with guitar wizardry and magnetic harmonies.

With The Northern South Vol. 2, Whitehorse returned to their JUNO Blues Album of the Year nominated project to reimagine the early days of electric blues. For the second instalment, The Northern South Vol. 2 deals 1950s blues bops, and hellfire gospels to meld the grooves and melodies of the original selections with the band’s steamy, swampy, squalling approach. Both snapshot and slingshot, with an eye on the end-of-days and Whitehorse’s ear for blues grooves, The Northern South Vol. 2 expanded the universe of the Northern South with foreplay, foreboding, fever, and Fenders — plenty of them — on cuts from Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon, Jimmy Reed, Slim Harpo and more.

Willie Poll

Author, Educator
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

Willie Poll is a Métis author from the Robinson Huron Treaty Territory (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) and a proud member of the Métis Nation of Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous studies and a Master of Arts in archaeology. She grew up with a close relationship to her Métis grandpa who filled her with stories that connected her to her ancestors and culture. Willie has worked in Indigenous education across the nation for over 10 years. Her stories are her feelings, emotions, and her tribute to the youth in her life. Willie currently resides on Prince Edward Island as a guest on the traditional lands of the Wabanaki and Mi’kma’ki people; however, she lives a nomadic lifestyle and has had the opportunity to be a guest in many places across Turtle Island.

Willie Thrasher

Musician
Aklavik, Northwest Territories

Willie Thrasher, an Inuvialuit singer-songwriter from Aklavik, Northwest Territories, endured the trauma of residential schools from age five, where he was prohibited from practicing his traditional culture. In the mid-1960s, he co-founded the Cordells, pioneering one of the first Inuit rock bands, initially covering hits by bands like the Rolling Stones. A pivotal moment came when a stranger encouraged them to draw inspiration from their Aboriginal roots, prompting Thrasher to switch to guitar and write original songs about his life and environment. In 1981, Thrasher released his debut album Spirit Child through CBC, showcasing his unique blend of Indigenous themes with contemporary music styles. Based in Nanaimo, B.C., for the last 15 years, he performs alongside Linda Saddleback. His music gained renewed recognition through the Grammy-nominated compilation Native North America (Vol. 1) in 2014, and the re-release of Spirit Child in 2015. In 2022, his 1994 album Indian/Inuit Country was reissued by Voluntary in Nature. Thrasher has performed across Turtle Island and abroad, including London, England, sharing his musical heritage with audiences worldwide.

Wolf Saga (Johnny Saga)

Musician
Toronto, Ontario

A 2018 JUNO Masterclass Finalist who was named RBC Canada Emerging Artist in 2017, Wolf Saga’s dreamlike synths dynamize as they soothe, offering a matured take on the affable bangers of the 2010s—MGMT, Daft Punk, Justice and Boyz Noize- with the wisdom of a decade in between. Wolf Saga was named to honour the spirit of the wolf—a loyal protector of loved ones that holds special meaning in Saga’s Ojibwe culture. With this album, generous in its wisdom and lavish in its fun, Saga is on a quest to give listeners a reason to dance, but jokes that it’s not all bottle service and strobe lights. The album’s songs, guided by the unwavering presence of Saga’s father, who passed away in 2019, were inspired by important causes such as Black Lives Matter and support for Indigenous land defenders. Saga wants listeners to pay attention. He also wants to ignite our imaginations, comfort our memories, and help us envision a resilient tomorrow.

Zoey Roy

Artist, Activator
Ottawa, Ontario

Zoey Roy, a Cree-Dene Michif artist, poet, and educator based in Ottawa, Ontario, has deep roots in Saskatchewan, belonging to Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation with maternal ties to Black Lake Denesuline Nation and Green Lake. Her poetry and spoken word performances are acclaimed for their profound exploration of identity, land connection, reciprocity, and visions for a better world. Zoey focuses on songwriting as a tool for Indigenous nation-building. She holds a Bachelor of Education from SUNTEP at the University of Saskatchewan and a Masters in Public Policy from the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School. Zoey’s career is marked by numerous accolades, including the Queen Diamond Jubilee Medal, Women of Distinction Award in Saskatoon, Congress of Aboriginal People Youth Leadership Award, Indspire Award, and Indigenous Graduate Leadership Award at the University of Saskatchewan. Recently honored as University of Saskatchewan’s “One to Watch,” Zoey Roy continues to use her artistic and educational platforms to advocate for Indigenous rights, foster intercultural dialogue, and promote cultural resilience.