Indigenous Music Office

As a lyricist, singer-songwriter Cassidy Mann often reshapes a small moment into a powerful and poetic song that feels both personal and relatable. “My favorite thing is to write about all the tiny things that make the bigger picture more important,” she says. “It’s interesting to me how memories are interpretable.” Mann’s first EP “If It’s Not Forever” served as a catalogue of how her early relationships ended and why. More than anything, she hopes that other people feel seen and comforted by her stories. With family hailing from the community of Sagkeeng First Nation, her Indigenous heritage continually influences her music. “Storytelling is something I feel compelled to do. I think it probably has a lot to do with the fact that so many of my ancestors used songs and stories as a way to preserve our culture,” Mann observes.

Curtis Clear Sky is Anishinaabe and Nitsitapii, and is an accomplished music executive, artist, and advocate committed to amplifying Indigenous voices and driving meaningful change in the music industry. As a multi-talented leader, Curtis has successfully balanced his artistic career with executive roles, demonstrating a unique blend of creative vision, entrepreneurial acumen, and cultural advocacy. As founder and lead artist of Curtis Clear Sky and the Constellationz, he blends hip-hop, funk, Latin-funk, soul, and rock with Indigenous themes, earning acclaim for socially conscious music and dynamic performances. A self-managed artist, Curtis has honed expertise in strategic planning and marketing, highlighted by collaborations with Grammy-nominated producer GGGarth Richardson. He also founded Dignified Records, a label dedicated to empowering diverse and underrepresentation through innovative production and equitable representation.

Dawn Ferguson is a Metis-Cree artist manager originally from Northern Alberta, now making her home in Calgary. Born into a musical family, she felt a love for music at the tender age of 5 years old with her first recording of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on her father’s cassette recorder. She later learned to play guitar at the age of 12 and was learning all the classic country songs by the age of 17. Her musical journey would lead her to form a duo, being the harmony singer, with her best friend called “CreeAtive Harmony” recording 5 albums. They were self-managed and specialized in singing country gospel, country and Indigenous Roots music with many nominations and accomplishments throughout their career. Performing at such venues as; Mariposa Folk Festival, Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, Indian Summer Music Festival, Tom Jackson Benefit Concert. Dawn has also volunteered her voice and guitar to community events for the past 38 years.

Gerard Wolfe, known as Mahihkan, is a 44-year-old Anishinaabe/Lakota member of Muskowekwan First Nation. His passion for sound design was sparked by recording movie audio samples on a Panasonic stereo after being inspired by Gary Rydstrom’s work on Jurassic Park. As a Dungeon Master, Gerard crafted immersive audio experiences for live games, blending and remixing cassette samples into mini audio movies. In 2002, he expanded into music, picking up the guitar and mastering the art of recording, mixing, and producing. Under the name Mahihkan, Gerard founded Mahihkan Music and Mahihkan Music Studios, where he continues to evolve as a sound engineer and producer. Beyond music, Mahihkan plays a vital role in preserving Indigenous history and culture. His work includes recording community consultation sessions on Bill C-92, Indigenous Child Welfare, residential school search initiatives, cultural teachings, and language preservation. Today, Mahihkan Music Studios focuses on chronicling significant moments in Indigenous social work, land claim settlements, and agricultural benefits discussions, ensuring these stories are safeguarded for generations to come.

Hi, my name is Gladwyn Badger. I’m an Indigenous surf rock-inspired musician, emerging arts leader, and an advocate for Indigenization and cultural preservation. I am Neyhiyaw (Cree), originally from Treaty 8 territory in Northern Alberta, but I’ve been living in Southern Ontario since 2023. Life has been good so far, and I’m grateful for the opportunities and teachings I’ve received since moving here! Music has always spoken to me louder than anything else. I didn’t come from a family of musicians or performers, so learning to play instruments and perform was a challenge for me. I had to figure it out on my own and carve my own path. I practiced, and practiced, and practiced! I was the greatest bedroom guitar player my family ever heard! After building confidence and proficiency with the guitar and music theory, I graduated with a music degree from MacEwan University in Edmonton, AB, in 2023. While I was there, I worked as an associate for Bent River Records, an independent faculty-run record label. It was during this time that I discovered my passion for elevating the presence of Indigenous people in the arts and the music industry. I wanted to fill spaces where Indigenous people aren’t typically found, but absolutely should be. After graduating from MacEwan, I decided to pursue graduate studies in Arts Leadership from Queen’s University, where I focused on Indigenous leadership in the music industry. This journey led me to work with Matt Maw at Red Music Rising in Toronto.

January Rogers is a Mohawk/Tuscarora writer and media producer. She lives on her home territory of Six Nations of the Grand River where she operates Ojistoh Publishing and Productions. January combines her literary talents with her passion for media making to produce audio and video poetry. Her video poem Ego of a Nation won Best Music Video at the American Indian International Film Festival 2020 and her audio work The Battle Within won Best Experimental Audio with imagineNative International Film and Media Festival 2021. She is a literary mentor with Audible, the Indigenous Writers Circle Program since 2022. January wrote a 10-episode comedy series NDNs on the Airwaves (found on the Ojistoh youtube channel) and her play Blood Sport, a comedy about the pretendian crisis in Indian Country has received numerous stage readings and was published by Turtle’s Back Publishing in 2023. January also has a background in radio production and was part of the 2024 A Day to Listen hosted by the Chenie Wenjack Fund, guest-hosted 10 episodes of the Kim Wheeler show on SiriusXM The Indigiverse through the summer of 2024, and produced 6 episodes of Words and Culture (The Haudenosaunee language series) with SiriusXM in January 2024.

Leanne Goose comes from Inuvik, NT. She is both Dene and Inuvialuit. Her academic background includes degrees in Arts and Cultural Management, Professional Communications, and Masters of Arts in Community Engagement in the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta. Leanne has worked and performed as artist, manager, leader and policy advisor, as well as held positions such as President the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre, Music NWT, member of the Indigenous Juno Committee, and advocate in Indigenous music, culture and traditional knowledge.

Malaya Bishop is popularly known as a katajjaqti (throat singer) who is originally from Iqaluit, Nunavut. Malaya has a diverse background with a master of arts in Northern Studies, commercial scuba diving credentials and considers herself a multidisciplinary artist who enjoys exploring various models of art. Malaya’s latest focus involves Inuit health advocacy, managing live music events and learning to sew different types of garments.

Tess Ray Houston (they/she) is a Red River Métis artist, actor, and creative freelancer based in Treaty 1 Territory with a passion for empowering fellow creatives. Building on a strong foundation in film, television, and visual arts, Tess aims to become a dynamic presence within the music industry by providing valuable and versatile support to foster artists’ goals and growth.

Evan Syliboy grew up playing guitar on Millbrook First Nation, NS. Son of renowned Mi’kmaw painter Alan Syliboy, creative expression was a constant. Mi’kmaw guitarists Willie Dunn, Ben Simon and Don Ross had a profound influence. Syliboy began studying jazz in his late teens, exploring the harmony of post-bop pianists such as McCoy Tyner and Bill Evans. Foundational experiences with Jerry Granelli and Tim Crofts solidified a great love for improvised music. With later influences from bands like Lilys and Slowdive came lush soundscapes, layers of fuzz and delay, culminating in a sound spanning introspective contemplation to all out noise-rock freakouts. He has composed for documentary films, as well as underscore for CBC during the 2023 North American Indigenous Games. Primarily an improvising musician, Syliboy has participated in many projects with Upstream Music Association and Breaking Circus. Syliboy’s composed and performed with Alan Syliboy & The Thundermakers since 2016. Their 2024 album Marks on the Ground was nominated for Indigenous Songwriter of the Year at the 2025 Canadian Folk Music Awards. Syliboy resides with his family on Cole Harbour Reserve in the traditional Mi’kmaw territory of Kjipuktuk (Halifax), NS.