When you press play on a song, you’re not only hearing music, you’re stepping into someone’s story. For Indigenous Peoples, our music carries many pieces of who we are, our language, our ceremony, and our distinct identity. Music is a way of keeping traditions alive while shaping the sounds of the future. That’s why the Indigenous Music Office (IMO) is stepping into Canada’s national music conversation through the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) hearing to ensure Indigenous creators are not only heard, but celebrated.
On September 25th, IMO Chair, Alan Greyeyes, presented to the CRTC with a clear message: Canada’s broadcasting and media systems must create more space for Indigenous voices. This hearing is more than a regulatory process but an opportunity to embed reconciliation in Canada’s cultural landscape through sound.
Why This Hearing Matters
The CRTC shapes what Canadians hear on the radio, what shows up on playlists, and how funding flows across the music industry. Right now, Indigenous artists face systemic barriers including limited airtime, underrepresentation in policy decisions, and inequitable access to resources.
By advoca
ting directly to the CRTC, the Indigenous Music Office is calling for:
- Equitable airplay and visibility for Indigenous music.
- Dedicated funding and support for Indigenous content creation.
- Representation at decision-making tables so Indigenous perspectives shape the future of Canada’s music industry.
By championing Indigenous creators at the regulatory level, IMO is ensuring that Indigenous music is not a side note but part of the main score of Canada’s cultural identity.
Several Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission speak directly to the importance of cultural revitalization and representation:
- Call to Action 13–15: Language & Culture – These emphasize the importance of protecting Indigenous languages and cultures. Music is a living expression of both, often intertwined with language revitalization.
- Call to Action 84: Media & Reconciliation – This calls on the CRTC and other bodies to increase Indigenous voices and perspectives in Canadian media. It specifically highlights the responsibility of media regulators to provide greater opportunities for Indigenous content creation and dissemination.
- Call to Action 83: Arts – Calls for funding and support for Indigenous artists to share their stories and perspectives through diverse mediums.
By aligning its advocacy with these Calls to Action, the Indigenous Music Office is contributing to the fulfillment of commitments Canada has already made. This isn’t only about music, it’s about cultural sovereignty, reconciliation, and justice. For Indigenous artists, greater visibility at the national level means more than industry recognition – this is cultural sovereignty. Imagine more Indigenous languages heard on radio, more traditional sounds and contemporary beats played side by side, and more young people inspired to tell their stories through music.
Chair of IMO Alan Greyeyes says “I want young Indigenous artists to know their voices belong here and that their songs deserve to be heard across this country. Advocacy at the CRTC is about opening those doors for the generations coming after us.”
In a time when Indigenous stories are being sought, shared, and celebrated more than ever, ensuring that Indigenous music has space to thrive in Canada’s cultural landscape is critical. The CRTC’s decisions shape what Canadians hear on their radios, playlists, and screens. By embedding Indigenous music into those spaces, we are not only amplifying artists, but we are amplifying reconciliation.
As Canadians, listening is one of the first steps toward reconciliation. We invite audiences, broadcasters, and policymakers to listen to Indigenous music—not only with their ears but with their hearts. The Indigenous Music Office will continue to stand alongside creators, advocating for the recognition, respect, and space they deserve.
Here’s how you can take part:
- Listen intentionally: Add Indigenous artists to your playlists and share their music.
- Amplify: Talk about the hearing and share why Indigenous representation in media matters.
- Support: Encourage broadcasters, policymakers, and industry leaders to commit to real change.
Reconciliation sounds like this: Indigenous artists being heard across Canada, not as an exception, but as a vital part of the soundtrack of this land. The Indigenous Music Office will continue to champion the Indigenous music ecosystem at every level to ensure Indigenous music thrives. We invite you to join us by listening, sharing, and standing alongside the artists shaping the future.