Brianna Lizotte is a fiddler currently living in Edmonton Alberta. She grew up in a household where music was played, whether it was from home videos or kitchen parties. At the age of 10, most of the musicians in her family passed away, so she took it upon herself to keep the music alive. This has led her to many opportunities such as graduating from MacEwan University’s Bachelor of Music program in 2023, competing twice in the Canadian Grand Masters, music festivals across Alberta, and traveling to Rome to support the Metis delegates during their meetings with the Pope in 2022. Brianna currently has two albums out, Scratch ‘Em which was released in 2018 and her newest project “Winston & I” which was released in July of 2024. Both received radio play on CJSR, CKUA, and CFWE. Brianna looks forward to developing her voice within the Canadian music scene with more albums and shows in the coming years.

Brianna is mentoring Simara May Tabour Wilon.

Simara Tabour Wilson is a Metis fiddler living in Hay River, NT. She is passionate about preserving Indigenous arts, culture and language through community based arts programming and social welfare advocacy.

Celeigh Cardinal captivates audiences with a compelling blend of humor and vulnerability,

forging profound connections on stage. A 2020 JUNO Award winner for Indigenous Artist of the

Year, she continues to make waves, earning 2025 JUNO nominations for Adult Contemporary

Album of the Year and Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year for her latest album,

Boundless Possibilities.
 

Released on June 21, 2024, Boundless Possibilities has been praised as "an emotional

stomping roadmap through grief." Its standout track, “Light of the Moon,” earned 2024

Songwriter of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards. The album also reached #1 on

the CKUA charts, garnered two Canadian Folk Music Award nominations, and was entered in

the first round of voting for a potential Grammy nomination.
 

Celeigh’s music has topped the Indigenous Music Countdown, CBC Music Top 20 Countdown,

and !earshot charts. Her powerful voice and poignant storytelling have made her a celebrated

figure in Canadian music, with performances spanning Canada and international stages like UK

Americana, Your Roots Are Showing (Ireland), Dubai’s Expo 2020 and Germany’s Reeperbahn

Festival. A true luminary, she continues to enrich the intricate fabric of Canada's musical

landscape.

Celeigh is mentoring Stacie Arden Smith.

Stacie Arden Smith is a born and raised Yellowknifer and proud member of the Tlicho Nation. At a young age she always showed a keen interest in performing, with musicals and singing lullabies to her younger cousins, she dreamed of being a singer. In grade school she took advantage of every music class and even joining choir in high school under the tutelage of Bill Gilday. 
 

Self taught, Stacie took to playing the guitar and writing her own songs, all of which tell the stories of her life. An entrepreneur, a mother, a survivor of domestic abuse, and above all, a fighter, her music covers a wide range of emotions. She is proof that no matter what age you are, you can always follow your dreams.

After nearly two decades in the music industry, Don Amero finds himself following his heart rather than rebranding. Armed with new material, he's pushing the boundaries of country music by blending Americana, country, soul, and pop. Amero now sees himself working in the service industry, aiming to make music with a purpose.

His 2022 EP Nothing Is Meaningless earned a CCMA nomination, and he authored a children's book, These Roots of Love.

His ‘Through The Fire’ podcast, Indigenous advocacy, and mentorship also reflect this attitude of service. Amero plans to release a series of six-song EPs starting in 2025, focusing on personal stories and various sonic qualities to let his voice shine. Influenced by a range of genres, from country to hip-hop, Amero is determined to avoid repetition, embrace growth, and create music that feels like freedom, while balancing fatherhood and family life with his evolving artistic journey.

Don is mentoring Lawrence Nayally.

Lawrence Nayally is a radio host for CBC’s trail’s end and originally from Wrigley, N.W.T. He is fluent in Dehcho Zhatie, sings, drums and is a gifted storyteller.

Simik Komaksiutiksak is an artist from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut and now resides in Tio'Tia;ke, also known as Montreal. Their passion for dance emerged at an early age, later gravitating towards dance and circus arts. Simik learned most of their dance training in Ottawa, and began performing arts during their teen years. Simik is a contemporary dancer, circus artist, and a choreographer.

Simik has appeared on the APTN documentary-series “Pulse”, modelled at the Indigenous Fashion Arts festival, and tours with Anowara Dance Theatre in the show Sky Dancers. Simik has worked and built relations with established Indigenous and non-Indigenous dancers and artists. Simik is the artistic director of "Anxiety", their first upcoming dance production. Simik now works for The Arctic Rose Foundation as the Guest Artist Lead, where they teach dance, creative movement and expressive arts to youth all over Inuit Nunangat as a part of the Messy Book Program.

Simik is also a part of the Arctic Rose Foundation's training team, where they help train other Indigenous dancers and artists to go into the north, to continue a legacy of art and healing within our communities. Simik's practice has an emphasis on developing a grounded and safe working space mentally, physically and spiritually. Simik’s desire is to explore how we release and free tensions through the expressive body, while connecting generational knowledge and bridging this into dance form and expression.

Simik is mentoring Christina Moore.

My artistic journey is inspired by the Wendat and French roots of my matrilineal grandmother, Pauline Greenland. She grew up in Fitch Bay, part of Lake Memphremagog, an area of relocation for post contact individuals coming from territories decimated by colonization, disease, and warfare.  The lake is within the larger territory originally inhabited by the Abenaki. The lake's name, Memphremagog, from the Algonquian language, means "where there is a big expanse of water". 

Over five years ago, shortly after the passing of my grandmother, I relocated to Sǫǫ̀mba K’è from Québec.  Here I was reacquainted with the steps of jigging and the love of dance, music and laughter instilled in me by my grandmother. Through my role at the local Friendship Centre, I honour my grandmother’s love of dance through coordinating a jigging revitalization program.  Also, as a member of the Yellowknife Elders Folk Dance Collective, I keep the memories of grandmother alive through dance and intergenerational connections. 

Dance opens a door that allows me to engage with community and share stories that connect us to our cultural traditions.  I believe in the transformative qualities of the Arts to help us connect with ourselves and each other. In both my personal, professional life and artistic practice, I am guided by four important questions posed by honourable Justice Murray Sinclair, former Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission - Where do I come from? Where am I going? Why I am here? Who am I?  As part of the Atti Indigenous Artists Collective, Performing Arts Mentorship Program, I plan to bring these questions to the stage and explore the ongoing journey of reconciliation, healing, and unity within our community here on the shores of Tinde'e (Great Slave Lake), the big expanse of water here in Sǫǫ̀mba K’è.

Reneltta Arluk, D.Litt., is Inuvialuk, Gwich’in and Denesuline, Cree from the Northwest Territories, raised by her grandparents on the trap-line until school age. This early nomadic life provided Reneltta with the unique skill set to become the multi-disciplinary nomadic performing arts artist she is. In 2008, she founded Akpik Theatre, the only professional Indigenous Theatre company existing from the Northwest Territories.

Adhering to its namesake, the cloudberry, Akpik Theatre strives to flourish in the northern climate it reflects by developing, mentoring and producing performance-based work that is northern Indigenous inspired and created.
 

In 2005, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Acting degree from the University of Alberta; becoming the first Indigenous woman and first Inuk to graduate from the reputable program. For over twenty years Reneltta has been part of or initiated the creation of Indigenous Theatre across Canada and overseas.

Reneltta is mentoring Liz Liske and Stacey Sundberg.