Wîchoîe Ahiya Concert featuring Dale Mac and MJ Dandeneau

Dale Mac is from White Bear First Nations, Saskatchewan. His storytelling and music are backed by his soulful and energetic guitars. Whether performing acoustic roots in venues or rock-based stage shows, Dale’s guitar is the energy behind his style. His influences include Pearl Jam, Clapton, Gord Downie, and Springsteen. Dale’s songs and lyrics are based around Canadian landscapes and settings.

Dale’s second EP “American Horse” was nominated for Indigenous Artist Of The Year at the 2018 Sask Music Awards.

He was nominated for the 2021 Industry Achievement Award at the Sask Music Awards for his work with Indigenous Arts boards and bridging communities. Dale also works towards creating opportunities for the next generation of Indigenous artists.

His third album in production titled "Pežuda Road" aka Medicine Road is based on his positive stories and preserving his Nakota language through recording elders, storytellers and blending the impact of language preservation with his music.

MJ Dandeneau is a French Métis/Anishinaabe kwe from the Red River Nation. Her mother’s family comes from the Red River Valley in southern Manitoba and her father’s family comes from Penetanguishene, Treaty 61. She is an accomplished bassist, composer, director, and producer. For the past 20 years, MJ has worked through her business, MJ Entertainment Canada Inc, touring worldwide with various artists. MJ’s diverse skill set, and versatility have allowed her to work globally across all genres of music with her creativity recognized through recording awards including Canadian JUNO, WCMA-Award & CFM-Award. MJ’s extensive music career includes production as artistic & musical director for various national events and assisting in career development for organization such as Manitoba Arts Network, Factor, MusicAtion, RBC Artist Export, ASKIY Export, and First People Council BC. MJ’s mission is not only to be working in the music industry herself but more importantly a mentor, sharing her knowledge and instilling the values of patience, respect, integrity, and kindness in upcoming musicians. These values have been passed on from her Elders and she focuses on bringing them forward so young people can ultimately adapt these teachings into their everyday lives. MJ’s key focus and passion are supporting and empowering Indigenous artists in successfully reaching their career goals.

Alice Skye is a Wergaia and Wemba Wemba singer/songwriter living in Naarm (Melbourne, Australia). Her first album Friends with Feelings was recorded and released via CAAMA Radio, the oldest running Aboriginal Media organisation out of Mpwarnte (Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia) and received critical acclaim. Since then she has signed with Bad Apples, First Nations-run label founded by rapper, Briggs. Alice’s latest album I Feel Better but I Don’t Feel Good was produced by local artist Jen Cloher and released in July 2021. Since then she has been developing her sound, always centering the original pull to music, which was and seeks to be - to seek solace.

Mauna Delau is a talented singer-songwriter belonging to the 'Tayal community from Taiwan. He is known for his powerful voice and characteristic guitar-playing skills. His unique style of music and deep reflective lyrics, he has been performing at music festivals, small venues, and music bars all over Taiwan since 2022. Inspired by Panai Kusui, a Taiwanese singer-songwriter and activist for Indigenous peoples' rights, Mauna's songs often address social issues, especially the situation and emotions of urban indigenous youth. While his first album is in preparation, Mauna has been actively exploring new artistic fields - soundscape and sound art. He has produced mixed soundscapes Project Bees that incorporate ambient sounds, beehive production processes, and interviews and conversations to praise his hometown 'Tayal beekeeping culture.

Cynthia Hamar has been described as “one of those rare artists whose authenticity overwhelms you” ; Alberta-born and raised in Treaty 6, she is a Métis singer-songwriter with four studio albums that prove dedication to her craft. Hamar recently completed her Bachelor of Music with distinction, majoring in recording and production. During her time at MacEwan, she was the recipient of the Victor-Osten Performing Arts Award (2022), the winner of the 2021 Bent River Records Songwriting Competition, and was chosen to represent MacEwan as a songwriter and performer at their 50-year celebration. Hamar’s newest album, Joint & Marrow was released on Neon Moon Records September 2022, charting on earshot! The National Top 50 Chart, The National Folk/Roots/Blues Chart, and finished the year off at #26 on CKUA top 100 for 2022. Joint & Marrow has also earned Cynthia a nomination for the Canadian Folk Music Awards 2024 as Indigenous Songwriter of the year.

Sarah Jayne Cedars is an Anishinaabekwe singer/songwriter, folk roots storyteller, an 1855 Ojibwa-US Treaty Descendant from Minnesota Chippewa Tribe whose Grandmother and Father is from Minnesota Chippewa Tribe White Earth Reservation, whose mother is Czech/French/Irish/English descent. Sarah has a beautiful unique voice with meaningful lyrics that share stories of the beauty of life, survival, and resilience. As a dedicated mother, granddaughter, and caregiver, she also carries a lifetime commitment to help her people. She is a survivor, boarding school descendant, lifetime seeker of wellness, educator, and a cultural revitalizer from her own ancestral line. With her music, she hopes to inspire healing and wellness, bridge cultural understanding, help mother earth, and anyone who listens!

Craig Commanda is an Anishinaabe multi-disciplinary artist from Kitigan Zibi First Nation, working in film, music, beadwork, poetry, photography, traditional crafts, hide tanning, and digital fabrication. He also holds a BFA in Film Production from Concordia University. His work has been screened at Imaginative, Wairoa Maori, Maoriland, Switzerland's Kurtzfilmtage, and more. He is a professional exhibiting beadwork artist, (SAW Gallery, OAG, Pierre François Oullette Contemporary Art Gallery, Foire Plural, Art Toronto, Montreal Arts Contemporain, Revelations Biennale) and most recently has contributed his portraiture photography to an international art project called the Inside Out project. Now he currently bases his practice in Montreal/Mòniyang.
 

Olivia Tail Feathers is a songstress from the Blood Tribe in Southern Alberta. Olivia has sung in many genres of music and created her own unique style of song through her musical experiences. She is a Blackfeet woman who grew up speaking the language and living the Plains native culture. During her first years of teaching in federal schools she realized the absence of indigenous song in the music curriculum. Her heart beat helped create the native songs she carries with her today. Olivia helped to start filling the gap of Traditional/Contemporary native song for student music in the classroom, communities and eventually World Music. She is proud of her heritage and continues sharing her stories and songs. Olivia founded a youth singing grouping in 1994, the Kainai Grassland Singers, the movement of the tall grasses by the summer breeze gave her inspiration for the group.
Olivia has performed with many first nations singers she gives credit to the Banff Center for the Arts in connecting with Indigenous singers from North America. Olivia is a recording artist and was a singer in, ’Hearts of the Nations Compilation C.D. and Ninniskssin’. She has credits in film and is featured in ‘Singing Our Stories, First Ladies of Indigenous Music’ NFB, and the ‘Intertribal Music Series’ CBC. Olivia sings today with her sons Blake Tailfeathers, Julian Tailfeathers and her daughters Stephanie Brave Rock and Shantelle Eagle Plume. In memory-the Spirit of her late son Donovan Tailfeathers.