The Artists

2006

Amanda Cull

Amanda is an active member of the Métis community in Labrador. In addition to her interest in filmmaking, Amanda also enjoys painting, drawing and playing bass. She has been a student at the College of the North Atlantic, as well as working and volunteering as a board member of regional organizations.

Lucio Ajpuu Yaxon Guarcax

Lucio has been dedicated to working with indigenous communities in Guatemala, especially youth, for many years. He is a member of the organization HIJOS (Sons and Daughters for Identity and Justice against Forgetting and Silence) and has helped with the task of recuperating historical memory so that the youth know about the devastating effects of the war in terms of thousands of dead and disappeared farmers, workers, students, leaders and others.

Krystal Francis

Krystal is a Mi’kmaw woman and mother from Wagmatcook, Nova Scotia. Her experience with the First Voices project has assisted her with her work at the community cable television channel WCCTV, which also provided the inspiration for her segment of the First Voices documentary.

María Soledad Millán

Soledad comes from the city of Castro, in the South of Chile. Her interest in participating in the First Voices project was to recognize herself as an indigenous woman, to get to know her history and that of her ancestors and to pass on this knowledge to new generations in order to reconstruct a history that is on the brink of being forgotten. Her segment of the First Voices documentary is dedicated to the women, who in one way or another fight to pass on their knowledge and to save their traditions and to maintain them over time.

Star Child (Eliza Knockwood)

Eliza is a traditional Mi’kmaq mother and filmmaker from Abegweit First Nation in Prince Edward Island, Canada. She has strengthened the connections established throughout the First Voices project while travelling to Guatemala with the Breaking the Silence Young Adult Delegation in 2007. Eliza has continued her involvement with First Voices as tour coordinator in subsequent years.

Hilda Fernanda Cumez Sicay

Hilda was born in the town of Agua Escondida, in the municipality of San Antonio Palopó, Guatemala. She comes from the Maya Kaqchikel indigenous group in Guatemala. Hilda works for the Campesino Committee of the Altiplano (CCDA), with a group of indigenous women weavers. Based on her work, she decided to make these women weavers in Cerro de Oro, Santiago Atitlán the topic of her video.

2007

Jose Mauricio

From Guatemala and of Mayan ancestry, Mauricio is a wise young man dedicated to infusing the young people of his community with his culture and language through the practice of Mayan ceremony and spirituality.

Cesar Solaj

Also from Guatemala, Cesar is a talented Mayan singer/songwriter/guitarist and educator who uses poetry and creative writing to connect with youth about embracing Mayan language and practices.

Jennie Williams

Jennie is a young Inuit woman from Labrador who has dedicated her life to using the arts (painting, drawing, drumming, craft making, singing and dancing) to share with young people and the world how her people live.

Juan Vicente

The youngest participant of the project, Juan is a passionate Lenca singer/songwriter/guitarist and an incredible painter from Honduras. Though he has never taken a single art class, his talent is unquestionable in his vibrant and detailed paintings.

Mike Doyle-Cluett

Mike is a talented singer/songwriter/musician from Halifax, Nova Scotia. In his efforts to understand his own indigenous Mi’kmaw roots, he questions, concludes and expresses his beliefs while exposing stigmas through his lyrics and music. Mike was recently nominated as one of Canada’s ‘Champions of Change’ in recognition of his exceptional volunteer contributions. Click here to check out Mike’s story!

2008

Gavin Evans

From Makkovik, Labrador, Gavin is a founding member of the drum-dancing group Kaviguak, which in Inutittuk means ‘to be deafened by a loud noise’. The group has inspired a revival in the desire to learn more about Inuit culture and continue to pass on the traditional knowledge the performers have gained. One such skill is traditional drum making, which up until recently had been lost in Makkovik.  In 2009 Gavin was chosen to be a National Aboriginal Role Model.  Click here to see why!

Ntirelang Berman

Ntirelang Berman an acoustic guitar player and folk singer, originating from the Southern Region of Botswana, is one of the leading traditional artists of Botswana. He has been a consistent force in Botswana’s folklore music and has in the past taken this music globally, with invitations to perform in Germany, China, Japan and Canada. Ntirelang has released a key folklore album (MALOBA) that won Best Folklore award at the second Botswana Music Union Awards.

Brandon Arnold

Brandon is an MC who uses his life lessons as Maliseet Nation rapper ‘Ill Fundz’ to offer his perspective through hip-hop lyrics. Skilfully weaving contemporary issues into rhythmic verse, Brandon stays true to calling it as he sees it. As a father, family provides inspiration for achievement and Brandon has continued to build upon his talent by producing an impressive discography, including his most recent release Rez Life.

Sedumago Keletlhokile

Hailing from the community of D’Kar in Ghanzi Province, Keletlhokile started singing and dancing from an early age, learning it from her grandmother. She now holds a certificate awarded by the Botswana Training Authority which recognizes her knowledge of traditional rattles, thumb piano, attrite and other accessories that symbolize various aspects of indigenous culture. She is a founding member of the local traditional dance troupe Itereleng, a group made up of youth who want to preserve their culture, promote it and use it as a means of livelihood.

Kayla Larkin

Of Ojibway heritage but raised for most of her life in Mi’kmaq territory on Prince Edward Island, Kalya sings what she knows best -of life and family. With her powerful and soul-filled vocals, she looks to provide inspiration to her community and especially younger aboriginal girls. Both a singer and a songwriter, Kayla artfully collaborates with others.

Dickson Diratsagae Mahupela

Dickson Diratsagae Mahupela, aka ‘Captain Dira’ specializes in lead singing and traditional dancing. Fusing traditional kwasa-kwasa and kwaito, ‘Captain Dira’ has achieved iconic status in Botswana, with the release of one of the best selling Tswana Traditional Music Albums in 2007. In traditional style, Captain Dira combines music and dance in his crowd-pleasing performances and incorporates rumba beats without losing the borankana (Tswana traditional) touch.

2009

Faith Marlette D. Dao-ay

Faith was born to a large family in the village of Liglig Tanglag, Lubuagan Municipality in the province of Kalinga, Philippines. She is a member of the Tanglag tribe and the Lin-awa Performing Arts Group. She specializes in Kalinga, Abra and Mountain dances. She plays several instruments including the nose flute and gong. Faith’s desire to join First Voices stem from her interests in meeting other indigenous young people and learning about their cultural traditions. Meet Faith: Faith

Mark Jhonarsky I. Victoriano

Mark is a native of the Kankana-ey tribe from Mountain Province, Philippines. He actively participates in his community through cultural events and festivals as a dancer with the Tayaw Organization and on behalf of University of Buguio. Mark also works as a dance trainer and costume designer. He is excited to learn about Atlantic Canadian aboriginal culture and to join in their dances. Meet Mark: Mark

Warren Bill L. Compitay

Warren has been performing native dances and playing gongs since he was a child. He regularly performs at the Lang-ay Festival in Bontoc, Mountain Province. Warren believes that this experience will help him to grow and encourage other youths to participate in activities to help preserve their culture. He says, “we are doing this in respect of our ancestors who built and enhance our culture from the beginning. We are representing who we are.” Meet Warren: Warren

Matthew Okkuatsiak

Matthew is a drum dancer from Nain, Nunatsiavut Labrador, a small northern community. Since 1997 he has performed with a group that revived the traditional Inuit Drum Dance after it having been lost for over 150 years. His Drum Dance group also plays with the popular local band called the Sundogs. Matthew describes himself as a shy person but is outgoing once he gets to know people. Meet Matthew: Matthew

Samantha Lewis

Samantha Lewis is a Mi’kmaw woman who grew up ‘on the rez’ as part of Lennox Island First Nation on Price Edward Island. She has been dancing in the tradition of ‘women’s fancy shawl’ for 9 years and ‘Hoop Dancing’ for almost 2 years. Her dancing has given her the opportunity to travel throughout Mi’kmaq Territory, as well as other parts of Canada and internationally. She has held the important role of Head Female Dancer at many Mi’kmaq community powwows. Dancing fills a large part of her heart and life, as does her family. Meet Samantha: Samantha

Courtney Pennell

Courtney is a young Mi’kmaq nursing student from the Acadia Band located in Gold River, Nova Scotia who is passionate about keeping her heritage alive. She sings, drums, and has been dancing for 18 years. Her style of dance is called Jingle. The Jingle Dress Dance is a healing medicine dance from the North. When the dancer’s jingles/cones mesh together it is said they are calling out to the spirit world to carry their prayers to the Creator. Courtney is proud of who she is and what she can do. If there is one thing she would say, it is ‘Be proud of who you are, never give up and don’t let the small people in life get you down. If it feels right in your heart then do it!’. Meet Courtney: Courtney