‘Ya̱lis Movable Feast 2025

AYSANABEE
[Oji-Cree]

Aysanabee (Ace-in-abbey) is a two-time JUNO award-winning alternative indie artist, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and singer-songwriter. He is Oji-Cree from the Sucker Clan of Sandy Lake First Nation, a remote fly-in community in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. Now based in Toronto, he began creating music under his family name when moments of stillness allowed him to slow down and create music that more accurately represents himself as an artist. With a swirling mix of rock, soul, and electronic sounds and pulse-quickening fingerpicking, Aysanabee’s music is both anthemic and cathartic. His style has drawn comparisons to Bon Iver, Matt Corby, Hozier, The Black Pumas, Kings of Leon and more. In March 2024, Aysanabee made history as the first Indigenous artist to win JUNO Awards for both Alternative Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year for his EP Here and Now (October 2023). The EP’s hit single, "Somebody Else," peaked at #3 on the MediaBase Alternative Chart. The Here and Now tour saw him embarking on two cross-Canada tours alongside Dan Mangan and Allison Russell. His debut album, Watin (November 2022), named after his grandfather, combined music and journalism with artistry and expression. The album was shortlisted for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize and helped establish Aysanabee as a unique voice in the Canadian music scene. In March 2023, he became the first Indigenous artist to top Mediabase Canada's Alternative Rock chart with the single "Nomads." On June 20, 2025, Aysanabee will release is second full length album Edge Of The Earth. The title track has charted across rock and alternative radio and has been a playlist favorite since its release in January. He recently released two additional tracks, “Without You” and “The Way We’re Born”. Of the album, Aysanabee explains “Every song on this record offers a window into very transitional moments in my life. Over the last few years, I was faced with decisions that often took me inwards and made me question the core of my creativity, ‘What drives me to make art and how much would I be willing to sacrifice for it?’. I mulled over calling the record Reflections, or Patterns, but landed on Edge of the Earth because oftentimes these decisions would take me to the edge of an unknown and leave me wondering if I was ready to take a leap of faith. I can’t say I was ready, but I can tell you how it felt, and it is in these songs.” Since 2021, Aysanabee has performed over 300 shows across Canada and internationally, with appearances at major festivals and events, including Reeperbahn (Germany), The Great Escape (UK), Woodford Folk Festival (Australia), Tallinn Music Week (Estonia), AmericanaFestUK (UK), Tönder Festival (Denmark), Cartagena Festival de Música (Spain) Ottawa Bluesfest, Osheaga and most major folk festivals across Canada. He has shared stages with prominent acts such as The National, Sarah Mclachlan, Kaleo, Alvvays, Blue Rodeo, Arkells, Nickelback, Digging Roots, Amanda Rheaume, Sam Roberts Band, Our Lady Peace, DJ Shub, Jeremy Dutcher, Mavis Staples, July Talk, Half Moon Run, Aqua, and more.

DJ KOOKUM
[Alexis Nakota Sioux]

Kookum is an Indigenous DJ and videographer from the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, and Cold Lake First Nations, their maternal Denesuline traditional territory. Based out of Vancouver BC, Kookum has been making a name for their self across the country and is no stranger in the community. Kookum is an open format DJ but grew up listing to EDM and Hip Hop music. This diverse mix diva slays on the decks and always keeps it hype, fresh, and unpredictable.

GARRET T. WILLIE
[‘Na̱mg̱is/Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw]

Garret T. Willie is an old soul masquerading as an uncommonly wise, weathered, witty and world-weary 23-year-old. He’s about to give rock ‘n’ roll a formidable 21st -century kick in the ass with plenty of wild, heartbreaking, and hilarious stories to share in true rock ‘n’ roll form. Garret T. Willie hails from Kingcome Inlet, off the coast of British Columbia. He’s been through some serious sh*t and lived through a lot more than most of us have at his age. But while Willie’s back story also gives him more right than most to sing the blues – and at heart, Garret T. Willie is a rock ‘n’ roller – he’d rather that not be the whole story. Willie is the personification of an open book in the lyric sheet to his upcoming debut record Same Pain. Through his songs, there’s a helluva lot of raunchy fun going on above and beyond the occasional exorcism of tragedy and trauma. To listen to Same Pain is to get to know him more than you might be aware, but also to find a friendly, sensitive voice with a gift for transmitting universal emotions. Willie gets himself, and in doing so kinda gets all of us. He also knows what makes the blues tick. And, man, can he rip it up on the guitar.

HASAATUK
[Nuu-Chah-Nulth]

Hasaatuk (Kalilah Rampanen) comes from the western coast of British Columbia, Canada. Her heritage stems from the Nuu-chah-nulth territory on western Vancouver Island, Woodland Cree near Fort McMurray and Finnish ancestry. Kalilah’s music explores a diverse range of Indigenous, environmental and social horizons that combine a blend of acoustic, blues and alternative styles of expression. Her passion for music took root at an early age that has blossomed into a trifecta of strong, melodious vocals, captivating guitar riffs and, a meaningful message. In addition to her musical path, Kailah is actively involved in activism and advocacy for the protection and preservation of Indigenous lands, culture and language. Kalilah has participated in a wide variety of campaigns that raise awareness of environmental devastation caused by mining, oil extraction, deforestation, climate justice and aquaculture. She uses her music to shed light upon the interconnectedness that is maintained through ancestral, indigenous roots to the lands and waters and she maintains a lifestyle that keeps her connected to her traditional territories, culture and family.

LEONARD SUMNER
[Anishinaabe]

Anishinaabe MC/Singer/Songwriter Leonard Sumner's storytelling flows directly from the shores of Little Saskatchewan First Nation, located in the heart of the Interlake of Manitoba. Sumner's self-determined sound is evidence of his ability to simultaneously occupy landscapes of multiple musical genres including; Hip-Hop, Spoken Word, Country, and Rhythm and Blues. With every vibration of the strings on his guitar, Leonard rattles the dust off truths that have been buried for far too long. On stage he poetically sings awake the consciousness of audiences may have been unaware of their slumber.In this era of unsettling history and healing wounds of the past, Sumner's music is an expression of medicine that walks the line between fortitude and fragility

MURRAY PORTER
[Mohawk]

Murray Porter is Mohawk from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. He tells the Aboriginal side of history with a mixture of country, blues and humour. He’s a “red man, singing the black mans’ blues, living in a white man’s world!” (from his song “Colours”). Murray is a self-taught, singer, songwriter and piano player, who’s spent the last 30 years playing the blues throughout the world, spreading his unique style of foot-stomping, hand clapping, rockin’ blues piano! Now living in North Vancouver, British Columbia, his CD “Songs Lived & Life Played”, was released to rave reviews in 2011 and won a JUNO Award for “Aboriginal Album of the Year” in 2012. He was also a 2005 JUNO nominee for ‘Full Circle’ with his former group THE PAPPY JOHNS BAND, and Canadian Aboriginal Music Award winner for ‘Best Blues’.

In 1994, he launched a solo career. In 1995, Murray recorded his first solo album “1492, Who Found Who?” for First Nations Music (distributed by EMI). In 2006, Murray performed at the “Out of Doors Festival”, at the LINCOLN CENTER in New York City at their “23rd Annual Roots of American Music Festival”, on a 10 foot grand piano, with Sipho Kunene on drums. Blues greats, such as Mavis Staples, Guy Davis, Larry Johnson and Bettye LaVette, were part of the festival. He also performed at “Native Sounds Downtown” at the NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN, in New York City.

REI
[Ngāti Raukawa/Ngāti Pākeha]

Rei is the next generation of Aotearoa/NZ bilingual artists fusing international sounds and setting his sights firmly on taking NZ's unique culture to the world (and making some bangers on the way). Rei (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Pākeha) is a musician from Wellington, Aotearoa (NZ). Now based in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, his music seamlessly bridges multiple genres, in particular, Urban and Electronic and has been travelling the world with his music in 2023. With over 10 million Spotify Streams, 6 Waiata Māori Awards and 4 NZ Music Awards nominations, Rei is carving out his space and is always innovating to create new, fun and inspiring sounds.

SEKAWNEE
[Squamish, Tla'amin, Kwakwaka’wakw/Musgamagw Dzawada'enuxw, Tɫingit, Xaayda Nations]

Sekawnee is rising artist from Vancouver, BC, honing his skills as both an artist and producer, perfecting his craft with his own records as well as collaborating with some of the most talented emerging artists in the Vancouver area. His music is a reflection of his life and personality, characterized by sonically engaging productions and lyrics that blend smirky wit with an energizing vibe. Whether singing, rapping, or producing, Sekawnee is committed to pushing the boundaries of his musical abilities.

Sekawnee’s sound is rooted in a lifetime of eclectic influences — from the hip-hop, R&B, and rock his parents played, to EDM producers like Calvin Harris and Flume — blending these inspirations into his own evolving style of hip-hop production shaped by icons like Dr. Dre, Pharrell, and Metro Boomin.

Sekawnee passion has driven him to overcome obstacles and pursue his craft, putting out tracks that make you want to listen – and Get Up and Dance!

THE NORTH SOUND
[Blackfoot]

The North Sound was formed in 2014 by lead singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Forrest Eaglespeaker, along with his partner Nevada Freistadt who composes and provides vocal harmonies. Keeping true to the traditions of Forrest’s heritage, The North Sound was created to share stories of Forrest's Blackfoot identity and traditions from Treaty 7 Territory. With a no holds barred approach to songwriting, Forrest’s lyrics span across haunting metaphors from everyday experiences to personal realities. The band’s lyrics and music are a balance that incorporate today's modern production techniques and writing sensibilities inspired by great storytellers like Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris. The North Sound is signed to the independent Indigenous record label New Sun Music (Nashville, TN, USA), created by JUNO award winner Crystal Shawanda and her partner Dewayne Strobel.