Entertainment

George Leach

George Leach, a Juno award winning artist from the Sta’atl’imx Nation, brings intense passion and dedication to every performance. His music brings together roots rock and soulful blues as slide guitar and a range of rhythms blend with his powerful voice. His self-produced debut album, “Just Where I’m At”, released in 2000, garnered international recognition, won numerous awards and established George as a respected singer, songwriter, guitarist and performer. His second album “Surrender”, released in 2013, featuring his raw vulnerability and incredible vocal range, went on to become a multiple award winning achievement. He continues to create new music, explore new sounds, and captivate audiences with his energy and spirit. A live performance by George Leach is an experience you won’t forget.

Alex Wells

Alex Wells is from the Lil’wat Nation, Mount Currie, B.C. Canada.

First Nations Dance and Cultural traditions has been his family’s way of life and he was brought up through the cultural ceremonies.

Travelling across North America since childhood competing in First Nations dance competitions has brought Alex into making it a professional business and a way of life.

Rex Smallboy

Rex Smallboy is a ground Breaking indigenous rap artist and award-winning music producer.

Rex raps in protest of the horrendous treatment of indigenous people in Canada to direct attention to the devastating impacts of colonialism. Rex’s music echoes generations of indigenous truth and perseverance. It is a call for justice to uplift and honour the spirit and strength of his people.

Rex is a proud sober father breaking cycles of abuse healing intergenerational trauma from genocide and colonization. Rex faced his own dark history of domestic abuse by turning to the Warriors Against Violence program for help along with getting professional psychological counselling. As part of his healing process Rex performs an apology song to address his harmful behaviour demonstrating the importance of taking accountability.

Earthchild

Travis Hebert aka. EarthChild is a Nehiyaw/Metis Artist, Beatmaker, Producer, Emcee, Singer, Songwriter, and Musician. EarthChild is formerly a member of the Indigenous Hip Hop duo Mob Bounce and was active with the group from 2010 to 2019. Since his departure from Mob Bounce, EarthChild has been working on establishing his solo career, as well as, producing music for other artists in the Indigenous Music Scene. During the pandemic he decided to focus on furthering his skills in producing, mixing, and graphic design, so that he can be more self sufficient with his music projects as an Independent Artist. Upon stepping into the producer seat, EarthChild has most recently received the award for “Producer Of The Year”, at the 2022 International Indigenous Hip Hop Awards. EarthChild has since released a 6 track collaborative EP titled “Indian Time” in 2021 with his friend and fellow Artist/Producer CJAY GRiZ. The Single “Indian Time”, with the same name as the EP, ended up making it to the top 10 of The Indigenous Music Countdown. EarthChild has released 3 Singles since the release of the “Indian Time” EP, with two songs also making the top 10 on The Indigenous Music Countdown.

EarthChild has collaborated with artists and producers like Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Boogey The Beat, Classic Roots, Hellnback, Hyper-T, CJAY GRiZ, and other notable artists in the Indigenous Music Scene.

Kiva MH

Kiva Morgan-Hall aka Kiva Mh is a Secwepemc/Nuu-Chah-Nulth Musician, Producer, Actor, Traditional dancer and Land Protector. Kiva started his artistic journey at the early age of 7, collaborating with parents through painting and music. Today, Kiva puts his focus into mastering his unique style and sharing his thoughts through music and art.

Burnstick

It’s folk music that’s brimming with the kind of chemistry that could only come from a husband and wife. Jason, a Plains-Cree guitarist, Nadia, a Francophone-Métis singer-songwriter, create the award-winning duo: Burnstick. Voices that blend together with ease, Burnstick pushes the boundaries of contemporary folk music, weaving together unique sounds of Weissenborns with intriguing vocal harmonies. With their Juno-nominated album “Kîyânaw”, topping the charts of the Indigenous Music Countdown in Canada, Burnstick encourages the reclamation of each other’s respective cultures while choosing to be stronger, together.

Sekawnee

SEKAWNEE is one of Canada’s newest rising artists on the west coast. Emerging out of Vancouver, BC. The 23 year old songwriter and producer has been dropping records that perk the ears of the industry. This Afro-Indigenous artist, producer and engineer comes from the Squamish, Tla’amin, Kwakwaka’wakw/Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw, Tɫingit, and Xaayda Nations. He also has dual citizenship with the United States.

He has spent years focusing on his talents as an artist and music producer perfecting his craft in order to produce his own records as well as producing for some of the best rising talents in the Vancouver area. His music reflects his life and personality with every song. He brings a new energy to the industry with his sonically captivating productions and smirky yet energizing lyrics that will keep you coming back for more. Whether he’s singing, rapping or producing Sekawnee strives to have no limitations on his craft as a musician.

Growing up Sekawnee was introduced to a wide variety of music from his parents. His mother played a lot of 80s, 90s hip-hop and R&B with her favorite artists being Michael Jackson and Prince.

His father played a lot of 2000’s and 90’s hip hop as well as alternative rock, punk, medal, rock n’ roll with some of his favorite artists being Rage Against the Machine, Jimi Hendrix, and DMX. As Sekawnee grew older he started developing his own taste in music. He began getting into Electronic Dance Music listening to a lot of EDM based producers Like David Guetta, Calvin Harris, Flume and Deadmau5. Once Sekawnee had a good understanding of the production in Electronic Dance Music his focus shifted into Hip-Hop favoring producers such as Dr Dre, Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, Travis Scott, Metro Boomin and Southside from 808 mafia. Sekawnee talks about a time when he didn’t have a laptop to perfect and practice his music. “I told myself I was going to get a laptop and start producing music one day, It was just something in my heart that I felt like I needed to do.”

Iskwew Singers

Iskwew Singers are a trio of First Nations women who create and perform songs in the plains tradition that tell stories of the connection to the earth, the Creator and one another. The heartbeat of mother earth is heard through their hand drums, underscoring a message of culture from a people who have survived the impacts of colonization. Coming from the Cree, Nation Shakti Hayes is joined by Métis singer Sandy Scofield and Cree singer Kelsey Wavey – each has an active career in other forms of music and art. Through Iskwew, these powerful singers bring the songs and sounds of their rich and vibrant culture to the ears of the world.

Tsatsu Stalqayu – Coastal Wolf Pack

Tsatsu Stalqayu translated into English means Coastal Wolf Pack. A traditional Salish song and dance group, the group consists of over 25 male and female members of a single family, from age 6 months to over age 50. Their variation in age and gender allows for more song, dance and stories to be shared on stage and in their presentations. The members of the group with pride represent the following Coast Salish communities: Musqueam, Squamish, Tsartlip, Nanaimo and more. This breadth of membership along with the multigenerational performers gives their audiences a sense of belonging to this, the hereditary lands of the Coast Salish people.

The Louis Riel Métis Dancers and Musicians

The Louis Riel Métis Dancers are a professional dance ensemble that has extensive training in traditional Métis dance, which blends European reels and waltzes with the First Nations dances. Their work reflects the unique cultural history of the Métis – a blending of French, Scottish, Irish, English, Scandinavian and First Nations. Led by Artistic Director Yvonne Chartrand, the Louis Riel Métis Dancers have performed for enthusiastic audiences all over the Lower Mainland, throughout BC and other parts of Canada. They can be seen at local events and festivals throughout the year including: the Annual Louis Riel Day Celebration; Canada Day; and the Talking Stick Festival. Métis dance is very joyful and uplifting – we believe that our dance is healing for our audiences. At Compaigni V’ni Dansi, we say “V’ni Dansi”, Come and Dance…”

Sandy Scofield

Sandy Scofield is a multi-award winning composer, musician, musical director, singer. songwriter and performer. She has studied classical, jazz, African, Indonesian gamelan and electro-acoustic music. A Métis from the Saulteaux and Cree Nations, she hails from four generations of fiddlers, singers and musicians.

Andrea Menard

With Michif roots originating in St. Laurent, Manitoba, Andrea Menard is an accomplished Métis singer-songwriter, actor, writer and speaker currently living in Vancouver. She is a 5-time Gemini-nominated actress, a 15-time music award winner, and was recently named “Métis Artist of the Year” at the Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards in Ottawa.