This special event brings the magic of collaboration to the stage, with award-winning First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists from across Turtle Island joined by Billboard charting/6x CFMA winners Sultans of String! Walking Through the Fire is a musical multimedia experience unlike any other. From Métis fiddling to an East Coast Kitchen Party, rumba to rock, to the drumming of the Pacific Northwest, experience the beauty and diversity of music from Turtle Island with Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk of the Métis Fiddler Quartet, Ojibwe/Finnish Singer-Songwriter Marc Merilaeinen (Nadjiwan), Coast Tsm’syen Singer-Songwriter Shannon Thunderbird, plus virtual guests joining on screen including the Northern Cree and poet Dr. Duke Redbird.

Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk
Born in Treaty One of Ukrainian and Red River Métis roots tracing back to Louis Riel’s ancestors, Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk has a DMus in classical and fiddle music traditions from the Université de Montréal. Her Métis family names are Nault and Recette. She mentored Ojibwe elder fiddler Lawrence “Teddy Boy” Houle and collaborated with James Flett to create the award-winning Oméigwessi, Reel Métis: A Tribute to Walter Flett. Alyssa is also a member of Métis Fiddler Quartet, winner of the 2012 Canadian Folk Music Award for Best Traditional Album. Alyssa is the artistic producer and violinist for Kuné: Canada’s Global Orchestra, an ensemble that brings the diverse sounds of Toronto into one musical family.

Marc Merilaeinen
The ever-prolific, Toronto-based singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist
and producer NADJIWAN (aka Marc Merilaeinen) has been blending traditional Indigenous culture with contemporary sounds, and it has been his trademark since releasing his debut album Brother in 1994. Since then, he has been honoured by the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, the Native American Music Awards, the Indigenous Music Awards, and Toronto’s Dora Mavor Moore Awards for the Performing Arts. In addition, NADJIWAN has performed at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the 2015 Pan-Am Games in Toronto. Marc’s roots are deeply entrenched in northern Ontario, as he is a member of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation Cape Croker, and has family living on Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, an Ojibway First Nation located on the shores of Whitefish Lake.

Shannon Thunderbird
Shannon Thundrbird, M.A., B.A. (Hons.), is a Ts’msyen Elder originally from the Pacific northwest coast of British Columbia: Gilut’sau Band of the Royal House of Niis’gumiik, Gispudwada (Orca) Clan. She is an international speaker, singer-songwriter, recording artist, painter, and writer. Her fireside chats, lectures, and original music open the minds and hearts of audiences to the rich culture and history of Canada’s Indigenous people. She is the founder and artistic director of Teya Peya Productions, and lead vocalist with her trio, Amgan Łiklgaawks (Red Cedar Sisters). She performs with Sultans of String, and choirs across the country.