Indigenous Music and Culture
Traditional music
Inuit Throat Singing
Karin and Kathy Kettler, the Canadian throat-singing sisters who together are known as Nukariik, carry on the traditions of the Elders from their mother’s village in Kangiqsualujjuaq, which is located in northern Quebec.
Ktunaxa
Ktunaxa Nation is located within the Kootenay region of what is known today as southeastern B.C.
Explore some traditional Ktunaxa songs on FirstVoices, such as the “Honour Song”, the “Meal Song”, and the “Wake-up Song”.
Contemporary Music
Tanya Tagaq (Inuit throat singing)
Tanya Tagaq is an Inuit throat singer from Iqaluktuuttiaq. She has received four Juno Awars, one Polaris Music Prize, one Canadian Folk Music Award, the Western Canada Music Award, and the Indigenous Voices Award. Tanya is also a Member of the Order of Canada.
Listen to one of her songs, Colonizer.
N’we Jinan Artists
The N’we Jinan Mobile Production Studio (MPS) began as a platform for youth to learn about and acquire skills in sound recording, music production, songwriting, and performance. Youth collaborate to write, sing, and record original songs centred on themes of cultural identity, language, struggle, love, and self-acceptance. To date, more than 800 Indigenous youth have participated across 60+ communities, resulting in 120+ songs and videos that have been viewed more than 15 million times.
Home to Me – Grassy Narrows First Nation, Ontario
Voices of the Maaqtusiis – Ahousaht First Nation, B.C. (Ahousaht is north of Tofino)
Firemakers – Lac La Croix First Nation, Ontario
Ta’Kaiya Blaney (Sliammon Nation) – Eco-pop
Ta’Kaiya Blaney is a Tla’amen singer, actor, and environmental activist. She has been writing and performing music since she was a child.
William Prince
William Prince is a Canadian folk and country singer-songwriter based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He has won numerous awards, including he Western Canadian Music Award for Aboriginal Artist of the Year in 2016 and the Juno Award for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2017 for his debut album, Earthly Days.
Supaman
Christian Parrish Takes the Gun, known professionally as Supaman, is an Apsáalooke rapper and fancy war dancer who grew up in Crow Agency, Montana. Supaman and world champion dancer Acosia Red Elk team up on this visually stunning video for the song called “Why”. Acosia Red Elk is a jingle dress dancer from the Umatilla people of Oregon.
Stories, Culture and Teachings
Seeing Through Watcher’s Eyes by Charlene George
The thirty-two foot collaborative mural Through Watchers’ Eyes designed by tSouke (Sooke) member kQwa’st’not (Charlene George) is a teaching/learning tool exploring indigenous culture, teachings and the environment. Seeing Through Watchers’ Eyes – Between the Worlds is an online interactive learning tool that tells the story of the land where the mural lives.
SENĆOŦEN
SENĆOŦEN is the language of the First Nations people of the area known today as Saanich (W̱SÁNEĆ). Read three beautiful stories intertwined with the land, seasons and traditions of the W̱SÁNEĆ people.
