Indigenous - my/maSCENA

(L-R): Cheri Maracle, Gryphon Trio, and Marion Newman in Echo: Memories of the World. Photo: Darcy Beck

Review | Echo: Memories of the World Explores Archives’ Power

By Kaitlyn Chan on 4 June 2025 Concert Reviews, Indigenous, Multimedia, Piano, Strings, Vancouver, Vocal, West

As the audience arrived at the Chan Centre for Echo: Memories of the World (May 31), they were immediately directed to the choral loft behind, and above the stage. “This is an intimate concert,” the ushers said as they asked us to fill the first two rows of seats. This intimacy fostered a closeness to one’s neighbour and undivided attention on the carefully curated program we were about to see. On the stage, four or five additional rows of seats allowed some audience members to be even closer, only a few feet away from the performers. Above them was a…

An Indigenous Playlist: Indigenous Artists Select their Favourite Tunes

By Kaitlyn Chan on 3 June 2025 Classical Music, Contemporary, Indigenous, Popular Music

In celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, La Scena Musicale asked several Indigenous artists to help create a playlist. Each artist selected one song by an Indigenous musician or composer and explained why they chose the piece. Discover what some of Canada’s incredible Indigenous creators are listening to in their song selections below. Eadsé www.eadsemusic.com Eadsé, which means “my good friend” in Wendat, is a Wendat singer-songwriter based in Montreal. She was recently named a 2025-26 Radio-Canada Revelation following the release of her first album Healer, which explores healing, resilience and letting go in French, English and…

Left: Corrina Bonshek Photo: Nick Morrissey. Right: Katia Makdissi-Warren

Festival International Présence Autochtone: Ocean Ode

By Nathalie de Han on 31 May 2025 Indigenous

Blending tradition and contemporary music, the musical event Song to the Whales will be featured at Place des Festivals during the opening days of the 35th edition of the Festival International Présence Autochtone (FIPA). This ode to ocean life features the powerful voices of Inuit throat singers Lydia Etok and Nina Segalowitz. Elder and Aboriginal singer Bunna Lawrie (Mirning Elder) and vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Whaia Maori Sonic Weaver will also join in. Australian percussionist Michael Askill will be conducting a gong orchestra. In all, 11 artists from the Corrina Bonshek and Oktoecho ensembles will be performing. Known for her immersive…

Photo: Ville De Pluie – Andre Rainville

Elisabeth St-Gelais: The North Star

By Viktor Lazarov on 30 May 2025 Classical Music, Indigenous, Interviews, Opera, Vocal

Makings of a Star Freshly emerged from a winning streak on the domestic competition circuit with an almost unparalleled record for a Canadian vocal artist in her 20s, soprano Elisabeth St-Gelais is enjoying a promising career on the national and international stage. Since 2022, she has won an impressive number of awards, including the Wirth Vocal Prize at McGill, first prize (age 19-30) at the Canadian Music Competition, the Prix d’Europe, first prize and audience prize at the Centre Stage Competition of the Canadian Opera Company as well as mentions at the District Winner of the Met Lafont Competition in…

Festival de la Voix: A Celebration of Cultural Diversity

By Adrian Rodriguez on 20 March 2025 Arts Industry, Folk, Indigenous, Interviews, Jazz, Montreal, Popular Music, Vocal, World Music

Since its inception, Le Festival de la Voix has been dedicated to showcasing the beauty of the human voice, offering audiences a rich variety of vocal music from classical to jazz, folk, and world music. For its 12th edition, the festival continues to spotlight artistic diversity and meaningful cultural collaborations. One of its highlights is Nikamu Mamuitun (Songs That Unite Us), a project uniting Indigenous and Quebecer singer-songwriters to explore shared histories and musical traditions by blending French and Innu lyrics to reinforce connection and reconciliation. Eight emerging artists will present the results of their work at the Beaconsfield High…

Laura Grizzlypaws and her daughter. Photo: Chris Randle

Report | Coastal Dance Festival: Rhythms of Connection

By Madeline Boldt on 17 March 2025 Dance, Indigenous, Vancouver, West

From March 4-9, Vancouver hosted the 18th annual Coastal Dance Festival, bringing together Indigenous artists to share and support one another in a celebration of lived artistic practices. It was a celebration of community, culture, and spiritual connection with the lands upon which we stand. Upon entering UBC’s Museum of Anthropology, one could tell that this festival extended far beyond entertainment. The performance space was surrounded by towering totem poles, strikingly lit to emphasize every little carving in the cedar. At the two evening performances on Mar. 4 and 5, three separate dance groups took the stage. Each one was…

An Exciting Summer for Indigenous Theatre

By Nathalie de Han on 31 May 2024 Indigenous

Theatre news for summer 2024, with an emphasis on indigenous artists.

CD Review | Ispiciwin (Leaf Music, 2023)

By Hassan Laghcha on 10 November 2023 CD and Book Reviews, Indigenous, Vocal

In the company of the Luminous Voices vocal ensemble, Andrew Balfour presents Ispiciwin, a new album of compositions inspired by Cree texts.

Buffy Sainte-Marie (Photo by Denise Grant)

Highlights | Canadians Question Identity of Singer-Songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie

By Zenith Wolfe on 3 November 2023 Highlights, Indigenous, Montreal, Orchestral, Toronto

The country is wondering about the identity of singer-songwriter and activist Buffy Sainte-Marie after a new CBC investigation that contradicts her decades-old claims to Indigenous heritage.

CD Review | Inuktitut (Bonsound, 2023)

By Hassan Laghcha on 6 October 2023 Canadian Music, CD and Book Reviews, Indigenous

Inuktitut Elisapie Bonsound, September 2023 Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd, Going to California by Led Zeppelin, Wild Horses by the Rolling Stones, The Unforgiven by Metallica, I Want to Break Free by Queen, Heart of Glass by Blondie, Born to Be Alive by Patrick Hernandez. These are just some of the classics reinterpreted in Inuktitut by Quebec native artist Elisapie on her new album, produced by Joe Grass. The 10 chosen hits, translated and adapted into Elisapie’s mother tongue, evoke emotionally-charged moments from her youth in her community of Salluit, Nunavik. The result is a highly personalized artistic…

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