Toga da wôhnagabi (Stories for the Future) Participant Concert 1

Norine Braun is an award-winning Métis and Two Spirit singer-songwriter and recording artist from East Vancouver, known for her soulful vocals, introspective lyrics, and genre-blending mix of roots rock, blues, and folk. With 15 commended albums, Braun continues to craft emotionally resonant music that explores identity, belonging, and transformation.
Her latest release in 2025 is A Hero In The Wind. The album's title track was written in honour of her birth father—anchors an album recorded in a remarkable way: the first five songs were captured live-off-the-floor in just one hour each during Steve Dawson’s Henhouse Pop-Up Sessions. The result is a raw, immediate, and deeply human collection that reflects love, reconnection, and reclamation.
Braun’s concept album Journey Toward Wholeness released in 2024 chronicled her reunion with her birth father and Métis family echoing Braun’s lived experience as an adoptee and was supported with an award by the First Peoples’ Cultural Council. Her environmentally themed Songs For Trees was named "one of The Vancouver Sun’s 5 Albums You Need to Hear." This album also was supported by First Peoples' Cultural Council, Canada Council For the Arts and FACTOR awards.
A captivating performer, Braun’s music continues to resonate across Canada and beyond.

Born and raised in Aotearoa New Zealand, Niki Kennedy is an award-winning Pasifi ka (Cook Islands Māori) singer-songwriter and musician based in Vancouver. Grounded in roots and soul, she blends warm grooves and emotional melodies into honest storytelling with heart.
Her forthcoming album, The Space In Between (2026), explores themes of home, identity, and belonging. It’s a journey of reconnection, grounded in culture, nature, and story, integrating Polynesian elements into contemporary roots music.
Through music, she shares openly, hoping listeners feel seen, heard, and held. Each note is a quiet invitation to meet ourselves and one another gently, in pursuit of a kinder world for all. 

Logan Staats hails from Six Nations of the Grand River and has earned a reputation as one of Canada’s cultural tastemakers, a land defender and one of our premiere storytellers. As an artist, he pairs gritty and compelling songwriting with raw, authentic and high energy performances that electrify the audience. Weaving his way through the sounds of Folk, Rock, Roots and Americana music, Staats powerful voice has become a fan favorite across the country, and around the world.

Meet Bobbi-Jo Starr (Kisikaw Iskwew – Daylight Woman) An Indigenous singer-songwriter from Peerless Trout First Nation (Treaty 8 Territory, Northern Alberta) Bobbi-Jo Starr who incorporates indigenous storytelling and teachings into contemporary music. From learning guitar at age 12 with her father’s songbook, to overcoming addiction and finding purpose through land-based teachings and water protection. Bobbi-Jo's music highlights her commitment to sobriety, water protection, and encourages others to live the vision!

Bobbi-Jo's debut single, "The Sun is on the Rise" is all about indigenous vision and encourages listeners to see ahead through the eyes of an eagle and live the vision! Bobbi-Jo shares her light and energy on across community stages in Alberta and is deemed one of Alberta Rising Indigenous Artist you should know by The Raven 97.3 FM. 

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.

KOYOT is a psychedelic rock, folk and indie/alternative band from Regina, Saskatchewan, blending atmospheric soundscapes with emotionally charged songwriting. Rooted in the creative visions of two Indigenous members, Wade Lavallee (Calling Rivers) and Donavin Logan. KOYOT’s music carries honest storytelling while pushing into expansive, genre-bending territory.

Drawing inspiration from modern indie, classic psychedelia, and the diverse musical histories of the Prairies, KOYOT crafts a sound that is both immersive and familiar. Their energetic live performances and dynamic arrangements have helped the band gain a growing following, surpassing 160,000 streams across major platforms since beginning in February 2025.

KOYOT was nominated for Fan’s Choice and Rock Group of the Year at the Saskatchewan Indigenous Music Association Awards, marking them as an emerging force in the Western Canadian music scene.
 

Anthony Pasqua aka Big Tones is an award-winning Indigenous Recording Artist born in Surrey, BC. He grew up in Regina, SK and is now residing in Saskatoon, SK. He has heavy ancestral ties to Treaty 4 Territory coming from Pasqua First Nation #79. Breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma, Big Tones uses music as an outlet, finding therapeutic release in storytelling through songwriting. Big Tones is a versatile artist, captivating performer and artist mentor. With a focus on old school hip hop sound, his powerful and soothing voice with intricate flows keeps listeners intrigued lyric after lyric. Big Tones is building on the momentum which has grown around his artistry and music over the last year. His single “Don’t Cry” reached #1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown and his track “Moccasin Flats” also broke the top 10. Big Tones won song of the year at the Saskatchewan Indigenous Music Association Awards for this new single "Shine".

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.

Cheryl L’Hirondelle (Cree/Halfbreed; German/Polish) is an award-winning interdisciplinary artist, singer/songwriter and critical thinker with family roots from Papaschase First Nation / amiskwaciy wāskahikan and Kikino Metis Settlement. 

Meghan Meisters (professionally known as iskwē) is a multidisciplinary artist and cultural leader whose work moves at the intersection of story, sound, identity, and community. A JUNO Award recipient and two-time nominee, as well as a Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize laureate, she is known for weaving Indigenous perspectives into contemporary forms with a voice both fierce and intimate.

In 2025, Meghan joined the National Arts Centre Orchestra as Senior Manager, Community Partnerships, leading a national portfolio rooted in relationship-building, trust, and the belief that artistic excellence grows through connection. She works across disciplines to nurture collaborations, expand access, and support NACO’s evolving role as a cultural partner. Her approach blends strategic clarity with an artist’s instinct for listening, creating space, and illuminating what lies between the lines.

Meghan brings more than a decade of executive experience as CEO of Littlebit Records, where she leads strategic planning, touring, partnerships, digital growth, and the production of award-winning projects. Mentorship is a defining throughline in her artistic and professional path. She has worked with emerging artists through Mikw Chiyâm, Outside Looking In, and Keychange, nurturing creative confidence, artistic agency, and long-term capacity in the next generation of artistic and cultural leaders.

A proud Red River Métis woman, her leadership is shaped by a deep sense of belonging and responsibility. Her contributions include serving as a juror for the Glenn Gould Prize, participating in residencies at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and Stanford University, and building partnerships across Canada, the U.S., France, Germany, the U.K., and Mexico.

Meghan recently completed the Ch’nook Management Program at UBC Sauder School of Business, strengthening her grounding in Indigenous leadership, business strategy, and governance. She is actively preparing for senior executive roles within Canada’s cultural landscape, guided by a vision of arts leadership that is relational, imaginative, and transformative.