How Indigenous musicians give back to community

This story is part of Resonate: Songs of Resilience in recognition of National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day. CBC Indigenous with CBC Unreserved celebrates communities and families through music.

Music can be a way for people to dance, to cry or escape the realities of life. For these Indigenous artists, music is a way to be visible, speak out, promote language and identity and encourage the next generation.

Artists like Tim "2oolman" Hill and Bear Witness who make up The Halluci Nation (formerly A Tribe Called Red) say they use music as a platform to highlight Indigenous issues.

That's especially true for Witness, who is Cayuga from Six Nations of the Grand River, whose mom joined the American Indian Movement when she was in her teens. Some of his earliest memories are at peace marches, or in front of legislative buildings, but in his 20s he started to feel burnt out. 

"DJing became more and more of a hobby as I grew up," said Witness.

"I started using the art as a tool to explore our identities as Indigenous people, our ideas, and the ways that we portray ourselves." 

Hill, who is Mohawk from Six Nations, said when he joined The Halluci Nation in 2014, it was a group of DJs who'd throw parties for the community. 

One day, while looking at the audience, he decided to use the group's voice and platform to bolster Indigenous representation in the mainstream.

"Just looking at everybody in the building who were predominantly Native and they were just kind of in awe of the whole thing … it was right then and there I realized how important it is to have the representation of Indigenous folk on stage singing their songs, doing their thing," said Hill.

Language and identity

Jesse James Gon, who prefers going by his stage name Diga, which means wolf in Tłı̨chǫ, is from Behchoko, N.W.T., the capital of the Tłı̨chǫ Nation.

He said his family's musical journey started when a local doctor gave his dad a guitar and his dad taught himself to play by listening to Hank Williams. Diga said at first he wasn't as interested in music as his 11 older siblings, but he found a Tom Waits album and eventually developed his own style of guitar.

His brother David Gon started producing his own music in Tłı̨chǫ and Diga has released albums entirely in the language. Now he's done his most recent English-language album, Trapline, he wants to work on another album solely in his language.

"I'm gonna find stories and legends, the Tłı̨chǫ legends… and try to find a way to write in a way where the music is cool but also at the same you're learning the Tłı̨chǫ language," said Diga.

For Juno award-winning artist Elisapie Isaac from the small village of Salluit in Nunavik, singing in Inuktitut is a way to give back to her community. 

She said growing up, the radio was an important way for people in Salluit to "connect with the outside world." 

Listening to bands like Fleetwood Mac, Metallica, Cindy Lauper and Queen, the lyrics resonated with her. 

"Having Cindy Lauper as a little girl was huge. She reminded us that we don't have to be this pretty, nice, quiet girl. We can be loud and demand respect," said Elisapie.

Her album Inuktitut features covers of classic songs translated into her language. She said she wanted to honour her people's memories of those songs, when Inuit were going through changes and hardships, by remaking them in Inuktitut.

"Elders can finally hear it and say 'Oh, this is what they are talking about and this is what it means.' I think it reached them. And young kids, why Heart of Glass meant so much to their mother," she said.

Helping others

After 40 years in the business, Juno Award winning Métis fiddle player Donny Parenteau from Prince Albert, Sask., wanted to give emerging Indigenous artists, like he once was, an opportunity to get recognition and get that shot into the industry.

Parenteau said it was important for him to start an award show that was just for Indigenous artists.

"When I won my first Juno there was only one category for all Indigenous artists of Canada, that's when I thought 'How can I change this?" said Parenteau. 

So he started the Saskatchewan Indigenous Music Association three years ago, which holds music awards solely for Indigenous musicians.

Parenteau said the awards show is growing very fast and he hopes other provinces will follow. 

"I had a young group, rap artists, and they all shook my hand and thanked me for the vision, the belief this can happen," said Parenteau.

Parenteau said he wants people to know dreams don't need to die within the four walls of your house.

"Music is a gift and it's meant to be shared," he said.

Watch Resonate: Songs of Resilience starting June 21 on CBC News streaming channels, CBC GEM, and YouTube.