Echoes of the Earth: Indigenous Musicians to Discover
- mypopchoirsing
- Nov 16
- 6 min read
Updated: Nov 24
Ancient languages, demanding environments, and oral histories told through many generations - Indigenous artists are informed and inspired by these common threads that run through their lives. Add their own experiences and the result is a tapestry unique to each.
However well-versed you may be in Indigenous music, you will likely find some unfamiliar voices in this collection. They range across gender, genre and the artists’ origins, both geographic and cultural.
All of the quotes are from the artists’ websites, unless otherwise noted.
If you have a favourite Indigenous artist that you would like to share with the My Pop Choir community, you are encouraged to add a track or two in the Comments!
Asayanabee
In 2024, Aysanabee made history as the first Indigenous artist to win the Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year, as well as Songwriter of the Year, for “Here and Now.”
In his first album, Wati, you will hear his grandfather’s voice, as he talks about subjects ranging from love to traplines to his life in a residential school. Asayanabee’s later work is inspired by his own experiences.
“Sometimes you just need to appreciate the moments, the memories, the people who have come into your life for a time, to share their gifts with you and vice versa.”
Asayanabee is Oji-Cree, Sucker Clan of the Sandy Lake First Nation, a remote community in northwestern Ontario.
Recommended: “Walking to the Edge of the Earth”
Elisapie Isaac
First performing when she was a teenager, Inuit singer Elisapie’s career grew to include work in film, television and voice-acting. She grew up in Salluit, the second-northernmost community in Quebec.
Elisapie has won numerous awards during her decades-long career, including the 2024 Juno for Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year. Her fourth solo album, Inuktitut, consisting of ten Inuktitut language covers of classic pop and rock songs, was awarded Best Adult Alternative Album at the 2025 Junos.
“I’ve been asked so many times, how were you able to translate this one? I don’t know! With my heart. When it’s very passionate and it’s feeling the emotion, it’s so much easier to get into the words and make it work… [Inuktitut Magazine]
Recommended: “Quviasukkuvit” (If It Makes You Happy)
Cody Coyote
Categorizing the many sounds of Cody Coyote is a challenge, but he has described it himself as encompassing hip-hop, electronic and pop. Currently based in Ottawa, Cody is of Ojibwe and Irish descent with ancestry from Matachewan First Nation in northeastern Ontario.
Cody is committed to community work as a speaker, workshop facilitator and youth mentor.
“The community work I do is what truly drives me. It’s my passion to help initiate positive change in the world. I want future generations to feel empowered, valued and seen."
According to Cody, his 2025 single, “Stand” aims to inspire strength, healing and truth.
Recommended: “Stand.” And if the residential schools issue resonates with you, be sure to listen to “Helpless” as well.
Deantha Edmunds
Classical soprano Deantha Edmunds, born in Newfoundland (she describes herself as Inuk and Irish), is widely recognized as a groundbreaking performer, composer, writer, and mentor. She has performed throughout the world, and her work includes the traditions of opera, throat singing, drumming and dancing, while highlighting current Indigenous issues.
Deantha won the 2025 Juno Award for Classical Composition of the Year for her original song-cycle Angmalukisaa. On July 1st, 2025, she was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada.
… what’s most important, [is] that we listen to each other’s stories so that we can learn about each other and then learn more about ourselves. [Kingston Whig Standard]
Recommended: Nunatsiavut’s anthem, “Labradorimiut,” from The Rock Performs Season 4, Opera Avalon.
Don Amero
Of Cree and Métis heritage, Don has been in the music industry for almost two decades. In addition to performing, he has a podcast “Through the Fire,” and is committed to Indigenous advocacy and mentorship. He has also written a children’s book, These Roots of Love, reflecting his goal of balancing fatherhood with his creative journey.
As well as serving as a youth mentor for the Winnipeg Jets, Don created the “Music Is Medicine” public-speaking workshop, to share his belief that music has power and impact, both mentally and physically.
Don’t let yourself be defined by the things that hurt. You know, if anything, you can use that as fuel to push you on. [Global TV interview]
Recommended: “Break the Glass” from Don’s latest album, Broken Record Part 1.
Jayli Wolf
Jayli is an Anishinaabe / Cree artist born in Creston, B.C., who released her debut solo EP entitled Wild Whisper in 2021.
I would say that the song I have had the biggest reaction from is “Child of the Government,” which is a song about my father, who was taken away in the ‘60s scoop. It was incredibly healing and cathartic for me to write.
This single was produced with a short film, directed by Wolf which won “Best Music Video” at Venice Shorts. The single reached #1 on the CBC and the Indigenous Music Countdown charts.
Recommended: “Deep in Those Broken Years,” released in June 2025
Jeremy Dutcher
Classically trained, Jeremy is a tenor, composer, musicologist, performer and activist, who is Wolastoqiyik of Tobique First Nation (Neqotkuk), in western New Brunswick.
He has collaborated with Yo-Yo Ma and performed with Susan Aglukark, as well as many other notable Canadian artists. Jeremy was awarded the 2025 National Arts Centre Award, which recognizes work of an extraordinary nature and significance in the performing arts in the previous year.
His first album, Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa, won the 2018 Polaris Music Prize and the Juno Award for Indigenous Music Album of the Year in 2019. He became the first artist to win the Polaris prize twice, when his album Motewolonuwok won in 2023.
Recommended: “Pomawsuwinuwok Wonakiyawolotuwok" ("People Are Rising")
Shawnee Kish
A Mohawk singer-songwriter with heritage from the Six Nations of the Grand River, Shawnee took a new musical turn in 2025 as she began to explore the Alternative Country genre.
Recently, she posted on Facebook about her just-released debut album, Country 1:
We moved from piano to guitar, and let the music take us where it needed to go. It was like building a map while walking it—scary, beautiful, and exactly right.
Shawnee believes in music as medicine to empower youth. One of her initiatives was creating "Music Is My Medicine," a symphonic work performed with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, highlighting the voices of indigenous youth.
Recommended: try sampling Country 1 on www.shawneekish.com
Adrian Sutherland
As Adrian lives in Attawapiskat First Nation on James Bay, it’s perhaps not surprising to learn that during the pandemic he built his own studio out of a shipping container! After many years as the front man for Midnight Shine, Adrian set out on his own and so far, has two solo albums, inspired by his northern surroundings and his Cree heritage. Choices, struggles, and resilience are his vision.
The knowledge I carry with me was passed down from my grandparents and their grandparents. I’m committed to sharing it with future generations so they can keep our traditions alive.
In December 2025, Adrian’s memoir, “Work of Our Hand,” will be published, offering his perspective on life in Attawapiskat, beyond the often-negative headlines. committed to sharing it with future generations so they
Recommended: “Notawe” (Sutherland’s first song written completely in Cree)
Andrina Turenne
Andrina is a Red River Métis artist from St-Boniface, Manitoba. Singer, songwriter and musician for over 20 years, Andrina has contributed to nearly 50 albums, and has performed around the world on stage, TV and radio.
She began her music career as a member of the Juno Award-winning folk band, Chic Gamine, and then released her solo debut album, Bold As Logs, in 2023. Her follow-up album in 2024 was Je suis un arbre.
Exploring many facets of her talents, she has composed original music for the musical, Gabriel Dumont’s Wild West Show and toured with acclaimed playwright, author and concert pianist, Tomson Highway.
Recommended: “Long Winter Nights” (shot in a tundra buggy in Churchill, Manitoba with Damon Mitchell, during Winterruption 2024)
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