Indigenous youth debut EP Album at Nation Music Centre

Photo of Nikamo at the National Music Centre in Calgary Alberta

Nikamo which translates as “sing” in the Cree language, is a group of Indigenous students from Kehewin, Goodfish Lake, Onion Lake, Cold Lake, and Saddle Cree Nations.

On October 28, Nikamo performed their EP Moments at the National Music Centre to debut their album.

The performance also included a flute solo and hoop dance by Beany John, as well a drum song preformed by Melvin John who is conceded the grandfather to the group.

The group was put together as a collaborative effort with the Kehewin Native Dance Theatre (KNDT) and non-profit Make Music Matter, to help Indigenous youth find healing and empowerment.

This was done through Make Music Matter’s program Healing in Harmony which offers a unique form of group therapy to help survivors of sexual violence and other traumas.

Through sharing circles, songwriting workshops and recordings, the students were offered a safe space to communicate their feelings and talk about the weight carried by intergenerational trauma.

Founder and CEO of Make Music Matter Darcy Ataman, shares how music helps children tackle emotions and feelings they may not have the words to express.

All the songs preformed where written and preformed by the youth participants while overcoming fears of preforming their songs before of a live audience.

Director of KNDT Rosa John, expressed her joy of the performance as she is seen a change in the youth how fair they have come on their musical journey.

Photo of Director of Kehewin Native Dance Theatre Rosa John

As this is the first step for Nikamo, members like Akima of Cold Lake Cree Nation, shared how she got involved through their school.

Photo of Akima of Cold Lake Cree Nation

Rayden of Saddle Lake Cree Nation whose only been playing ukulele for only seven months, shared how he wants to continue making music when he returns home.