“The truth about stories is, that’s all we are. You have to be careful with the stories you tell. And you have to watch out for the stories that you are told. There are no truths.”  - Thomas King

I would like to acknowledge that I live and write on Treaty Six Territory, the traditional meeting grounds for the Cree, Anishinaabe, Dene, Nakota Sioux, Nêhiýaw, Siksikaitsitapi and the Metis Nation-Region 4, whose footsteps and stories have and will continue to mark and shape our world for generations. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the power of storytelling and that possessing the ability to tell stories and shape narratives is a privilege that can be often overlooked. I recognize that I have the privilege to tell stories and shape narratives and I hope I can use this to help and empower myself and others around me so that we can all strive towards reconciliation.

Author's Note: Before this article starts, I would like to clarify that the content of this article has to do with the stories and narratives told by Indigenous people. I am not an Indigenous person and I write this article in hopes of bringing forward other’s voices that may not be heard so that the reader, whoever you may be, is free to explore different artists and discover your own conclusions. This article was written in consultation with a member from the Indigenous community in hopes that my writings are kind and respectful of their culture. Thank you for listening. 

When I was very young, I started listening to Buffy Sainte-Marie, a person who, at the time, was considered to be an amazing Indigenous spokesperson and songwriter. I was excited to listen to an artist who seemed to express ideas and stories that I felt were very important. Some of you may know, but earlier this year Buffy Sainte-Marie was found to have lied about her Indigenous ancestry. 

I understand that opinions on the events that have transpired around Buffy Sainte-Marie’s ancestry may vary from mine, but when I heard this news, I felt lost and betrayed. I felt like the person that I had looked up to, and listened to, the person who I had let shape my narrative of the world, had changed. In light of this, I decided to help create a list of other artists who, currently, represent authentic Indigenous voices and stories. So whether you are here to find new voices, explore different options, want to find a good song with a beat, or are here purely out of boredom or due diligence, I present to you my top five recommended actually Indigenous singer songwriters and bands.

1. The Jerry Cans

This indigenous band is from Iqaluit, Nunavut. They celebrate Inuit culture and sing primarily in Inuktitut, reminding us of the importance of language. With epic electric guitars, stylishly speedy violins, and awe inspiring throat singing, the Jerry Cans can easily bring a crowd to their feet. Play the sample below to see if this band fits your musical jam. If you feel like checking out this cool band you can find their music on their website, https://www.thejerrycans.com/about, or check them out on Bandcamp, Spotify or iTunes.

2.  Aysanabee

Aysanabee is an indigenous producer, instrumentalist, and singer songwriter who is currently based in Toronto. Known for his soulful and indie soundscapes, Aysanabee pulls at the heartstrings with his debut album, Watin, which features the voice of his grandfather and explores his grandfather’s life on reserve and through residential school. This soulful album can be a great resource to furthering our education about what happened in residential schools and can help us further our journey to reconciliation. You can find more information about Aysanabee at his Website,https://www.aysanabee.com/, at Ishkōde Records, https://ishkoderecords.com/aysanabee/ , on Spotify, or on Itunes or listen to a preview down below.

3. Tanya Tagaq

Juno Award winning Inuk artist, Tanya Tagaq, will blow you away with her Improvisational throat singing. If throating is your thing and you love a good experimental remix then Tanya Tagaq is the artist for you. With songs like Tongues and Colonizer Tanya Tagaq shows us the intense emotions that can be felt as a result of colonization. You can find Tanya Tagaq at her website, https://www.tanyatagaq.com/, on her youtube channel, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCglLfFknLBXLyRhccEzFNcw, on Spotify, or on iTunes.

4. Jeremy Dutcher

Soft and impactful, Jeremy Dutcher’s blues style music touches the hearts of all. Dutcher’s music helps us connect with songs old and new by combining Western and Indigenous instruments and dialects. Regardless of what language you speak, Ducher’s jaw dropping tenor will leave you speechless. If you feel like checking out this Juno winning First Nations artist you can find his music on his website, https://jeremydutcher.com/, Spotify, Itunes, Youtube, or check out the sound clip below. 

5. Iskwew Singers

Formed in Toronto, the Iskwew Singers are a group of three First Nations women who sing traditional Cree and Metis songs. Their songs tell stories of the Earth and help us feel connected with our land. Their hand drums and powerful singing remind us of the power of the land. If you ever need a really solid pick me up or a way to just connect with the world, I would highly recommend the Iskwew Singers! You can find them on their website, https://www.iskwewsingers.com/, iTunes, or Spotify, or listen to them through the link down below.

Who we listen to, why we listen to them, and how we allow them to shape our worlds can impact the people that we become. Whether you have found your jam in the experimental music of Tanya Tagaq or connected to the earth through the Iskwew singers, or even found no one new to listen to at all, I hope that you continue to explore many more Indigenous artists. These may be some of the bands and artists that I have discovered but there are many more out there that I have not yet had the pleasure of encountering and many others that I would have liked to include in this list.

Remember that there is power everywhere. There is power in the person down the street. There is power in your own two feet. There is power in the advertisement before the Youtube video you are about to watch and in the songs that you sing. Power lies in the album, Spotify, radio, and concert. There is power in everything. The narratives we take change who we are and how we think. How many times have you thought well of someone, only to learn new things about them and change your mind? How many movies, shows, cartoons did you skip because someone said they weren't very good? Narratives and stories change how we perceive the world and how we listen. Which is why I created this list in the first place, so that we all have access to new perspectives.

I hope that you have enjoyed this opportunity to explore new voices and stories and that you continue to contemplate how narratives change us. I hope that we can all learn from these amazing risk takers so that their messages can help us connect to something true. Through learning, we can all continue to strive towards understanding and reconciliation. Thanks for listening!