As we continue to honour Indigenous artists and their contributions to Canada’s musical landscape, it’s clear that their influence extends far beyond the notes they play. These musicians are not only preserving their cultures but are also redefining the future of Indigenous music.
In this second part of our series, we introduce another group of Indigenous artists who are making waves in the Canadian music scene. From emerging talents to established voices, these musicians are using their platforms to celebrate their heritage, challenge stereotypes, and inspire change through innovative sounds and powerful messages.
Elisapie
Inuk singer-songwriter Elisapie was born and raised in a small village in Nunavik named Salluit. From her first JUNO in 2005 to last year’s Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year win, the artist has earned many accolades throughout her career – Félix Awards, Polaris Music Prize shortlists, and a Canadian Screen Award, to name a few.
Her indie and folk style blends tradition and modernism, especially her 2023 album Inuktitut which covers hits from the 60s to the 90s in her native Inuit language.
Over the course of her career, Elisapie has performed around the world, from the prestigious Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal to a global tour. She has also earned praise from Rolling Stone France and played for NPR’s Tiny Desk.
Ruby Waters
An Ontario-born artist of Métis descent, Ruby Waters began her career as a young teen busking and performing in local bars. Fast forward to today, her work has garnered upwards of 50 million streams and a JUNO nomination for Alternative Album of the Year in 2022 for her EP If It Comes Down to It.
When it comes to live performance, Waters is a seasoned entertainer, from opening on City and Colour’s tour in 2019 to headlining shows across the world. Following her latest album What’s The Point, which dropped in May 2024, the artist is currently in the midst of a North American tour that ends in Montreal on November 21st.
Zoon
Daniel Monkman a.k.a Zoon (short for zoongide’ewin, meaning bravery and courage) grew up on the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation reserve. The Two-Spirit artist describes their style as “moccasingaze” – a fusion of shoegaze with traditional elements of First Nations music.
Their debut album, Bleached Wavves, made the 2021 shortlist for the Polaris Music Prize and is a reflection of their journey from getting clean to rediscovering their Indigenous culture. After being signed to Paper Bag Records and releasing a few more EPs, Zoon’s sophomore album Bekka Ma’iingan pushed boundaries even further, earning them a 2024 JUNO nomination for Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year.
Zoon infuses their Indigenous experience into the album along with a central theme of “safety and wellness”, particularly the acknowledgement of their Two-Spirit identity in the track “Niizh Manidoowig (2 Spirit)”.
Tia Wood
Tia Wood’s debut EP Pretty Red Bird is hot off the press (released in September 2024), but the Cree and Salish artist has been sharing her talent and championing her heritage on TikTok since early 2020, where she now has over two million followers.
Her musical journey began long before that, in Saddle Lake Cree Nation in central Alberta, a community of only 6000 people. Wood was born to a family of talented musicians – her father a member of Grammy-nominated powwow drum group Northern Cree, her mother a member of an all-women drum group, and her sister a JUNO Award-winning singer. The family would often perform traditional music together, providing Wood with her very first experiences on stage.
Last year, the artist was officially signed to Sony Music – one of the first Indigenous women to be signed to the label – and in early 2024 began releasing the first singles off her EP, including “Dirt Roads” which was written when she first left home to pursue music in L.A. three years ago.
The project is a mix of lush, modern R&B production and pop vibes, along with soulful vocals and infusions of Indigenous sounds. The artist also proudly dons Indigenous-made fashion inspired by her culture, which can be seen in her music videos.
Aysanabee
Aysanabee, born Evan Pang, is an Oji-Cree singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist from the Sucker Clan of Sandy Lake First Nation, now based in Toronto.
His debut album, Watin, was named in honour of his grandfather whose voice is incorporated in the project’s numerous interludes, merging music with storytelling and personal history. The album was released under Ishkōdé Records, one of Canada’s first Indigenous and women-owned labels, and was shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize in 2023.
His most recent EP, Here and Now, explores new musical territory and themes. A blend of indie and electronic production mixed with soulful vocals, the artist describes the work as an exploration of the “impact of colonization on Indigenous love in this country.” In 2024, Aysanabee became the first ever Indigenous artist to win the JUNO Awards for both Alternative Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year for Here and Now.
Celeigh Cardinal
Celeigh Cardinal is a soulful folk singer-songwriter from Northern Alberta whose work has earned numerous accolades, including the 2020 JUNO Award for Indigenous Artist of the Year, as well as nominations from the CBC Music Awards, Western Canadian Music Awards, and Edmonton Music Awards.
With two full-length albums already to her name, the acclaimed artist just released a third in June 2024, titled Boundless Possibilities. The multi-genre project reflects a deeply personal journey of spiritual and emotional growth, delving into themes of loss, strength, and healing.
Known for her electric and raw stage presence, Cardinal has toured extensively across Europe and performed for audiences worldwide. Her work has also extended into the entertainment industry beyond music, from featuring on Disney’s reality TV Show The Recital of Remixes to placing numerous songs in film and TV. She’s even worked as a radio host for Edmonton’s CKUA Radio network show “Full Circle”, a celebration of Indigenous music from around the globe.
Don’t miss the previous article in our series: 8 Indigenous Artists Shaping the Canadian Music Scene.
Written by Andria Piperni
Illustration by Holly Li
