Mâwacihitowinihk Nikamowak: A Gathering of Indigenous Musicians

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.

Aanii Kina Waya! Jason Manitowabi ndizhnakaaz. I am an Odawa Man of the 3 Fires Confederacy and a lifelong artist.  I am a father of 3 beautiful daughters and I thank the creator everyday for these amazing gifts. 

I am currently on the  Wiikwemkoong Anishinabe Aadziwin Nakiigamig team as the Cultural  Events Coordinator. My initial tasks include coordinating our Wiikwemkoong Annual Cultural Festival as well lead the Wiikwemkoong Arts and Music Festival where I create platforms and stages for our local emerging artists to share with professional and established artists. 

I am excited for this opportunity and have spent the past 30 years working in various areas and sectors, acquiring many skills along the way. I attended Trebas Institute, Toronto Campus, in 2007 and studied Recorded Music Production, Audio engineering and DJ Arts. I then returned home to work for Debajehmujig Theatre Group where I was involved in various exciting music productions and recording projects and of course sound design for theatre. I look forward to learning and embracing the challenges that this position brings and continue to enjoy working for my community! As one only a handful of Indigenous  presenters of an Indigenous Festival, I feel privileged to work with many prominent and established producers across various fields, including many musicians including Crystal Shawanda, Logan Staats, Aysanabee, Stella Standingbear, Snotty Nose Rez Kidz,  Derek Miller, Ernest Monias, and many others! I also have had tremendous opportunities to work in creating content as a media consultant and producer in translation through digital Media arts, working with folks like Jennifer Podemski and Alanis King.  

Miigwetch! 

Jah’kota is an Afro-Indigenous artist /entrepreneur and humanitarian who believes in serving the greater good of the community. His father is from Kingston Jamaica and his mother is Nakota Assiniboine, signatories to Treaty 4. He was born and raised in Winnipeg and now lives full time in Ocean Man First Nation in Saskatchewan.

Jah'kota has had two songs reach number one on the Indigenous music countdown and has been nominated for multiple awards including the Indigenous Music Awards 2019, the Native American Music Awards 2024,  SaskMusic Awards 2025, and the Saskatchewan Indigenous Music Awards 2025.

Justin “Jahkota” Holness uses music as a way to amplify the message of self-determination and to empower the welfare of people and the planet. 

Aysanabee is a multi-instrumentalist, producer and singer songwriter currently based in Toronto. He is Oji-Cree, Sucker Clan of the Sandy Lake First Nation a remote fly-in community in the far reaches of Northwestern Ontario. 

On Mar 23, 2024, Aysanabee made history as the first ever Indigenous Artist to win the JUNO Awards for Alternative Album of the Year and the coveted Songwriter of the year, for Here and Now. Aysanabee won his third and fourth JUNO Awards on Mar 28, 2026 in both of his nominated categories Alternative Artist of the Year and Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year for Edge of The Earth. 

Aysanabee has performed over 400 shows on major stages and festivals and venues across Canada and globally including Ottawa Bluesfest, Osheaga, Montréal Jazzfest, Tönder Music Festival, AmericanaFest UK, Wake the Giant, The Great Escape, Reeperbahan and more.

Perpetually curious, Peter Knight’s practice exists in the spaces between categories, between genres and between cultures. From 2013-23 Peter was the Artistic Director of the Australian Art Orchestra, for which he commissioned over 100 compositions and collaborations from a diverse range of international and Australian artists including Nicole Lizée, Alvin Lucier, Anthony Braxton, Hyelim Kim, and Senyawa. He also composed for, and performed in the company, presenting his works at international festivals and venues in more than a dozen countries winning awards including four AMC Art Music Awards, the Albert H Maggs Composition Prize, and numerous ARIA nominations. Peter has maintained an active solo career developing an international reputation as an innovator who is extending the possibilities of his instrument with approaches that interweave acoustic and electronics. His latest solo release, Shadow Phase, is out on the ROOM40 label, described by Headphone Commute as, "a carefully curated exercise in reflective restraint, dreamy atmospherics, ebbing dynamics.” He holds a doctorate from Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University and was named its Alumnus of the Year in 2013. 

Photo by Sarah Walker