National Music Centre Welcomes Seven Indigenous Artists for 2026 OHSOTO’KINO Music Incubator
Five-day program culminates with public showcase and reception on Sept. 17
(Calgary, AB — September 3, 2026) The National Music Centre (NMC) is welcoming a new cohort of Indigenous artists to the OHSOTO’KINO Music Incubator. Big Tones, Chills, Ellescriv, Ger Carriere, Graeme Jonez, Stacie Arden Smith, and Teagan Littlechief have been selected to take part in this year’s program, kicking off later this month.
The five-day incubator will culminate in a live showcase and reception on September 17 at Studio Bell, giving audiences a chance to experience this year’s artists live and celebrate the next wave of Indigenous talent from across Canada.
Anthony “Big Tones” Pasqua is a hip-hop artist born in Surrey, British Columbia, now residing in Saskatoon, who uses hip-hop as a vessel to transcend pain and trauma, and revive pride through culture.
From Pine Creek First Nation and currently based Calgary, Chills transforms rap, trap, hip-hop, pop, and electronic music into a boundary-pushing soundscape, inspired by the haunting vibes of his viral presence. Outside of music, his massive digital footprint on YouTube and other channels boasts a combined 10 million subscribers and billions of views.
Performing under the moniker Ellescriv, Lorissa Scriven is an alt-folk singer-songwriter from Saulteau First Nation who grew up in the pines of northwest B.C.
Ger Carriere is a genre-bending Cree artist, author, and motivational speaker. Originally from Cumberland House, Saskatchewan and now based in Edmonton, her performances blend powerful vocals, heartfelt storytelling, and inspiring messages of resilience.
A member of the Sheguiandah First Nation on Manitoulin Island, who now calls Toronto home, Graeme Jonez is a storyteller at heart. Combining his acoustic guitar and Indigenous perspective, Jonez creates music he calls "dark fiction put to music."
Hailing from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Stacie Arden Smith is a Tłı̨chǫ (Dene) singer-songwriter and self-taught guitarist. Deeply connected to the North, her music is inspired by the community, and personal experiences that have shaped her life.
Known for her multi-octave range and commanding stage presence, Teagan Littlechief has made a name for herself as one of Canada’s leading Indigenous country musicians. Her music is a blend of country-rock and pop that has earned her multiple accolades.
“It will be exciting to see and hear new artists flourish within the OHSOTO’KINO incubator, and witness the group become motivated as they gather in Calgary,” said David McLeod (Minegoziibe Anishinabe, formerly Pine Creek First Nation, Treaty 4), NMC Board Member and Chair of NMC's National Indigenous Programming Advisory Committee. “This year’s cohort represents a wide range of sounds, stories, and approaches to making music. The incubator is a chance for artists to step into a focused environment, to reflect upon their music and career, to exchange ideas, and to make connections that will carry well beyond the length of the program.”
The selected artists will converge at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre in Mohkinstsis (Calgary), for five days to learn new skills, connect with music industry experts from across the country, and hone their craft and professional chops. Artists for the music incubator were selected by NMC’s National Indigenous Programming Advisory Committee, which includes First Nation, Métis and Inuit representation, and acts as a guiding voice for NMC Indigenous programs and content.
Launched in early 2022, OHSOTO’KINO is an Indigenous programming initiative supported by TD that emphasizes three key pillars: creating new music in NMC’s recording studios, fostering artist development through a music incubator program, and amplifying Indigenous voices through storytelling in NMC’s exhibitions, including the annually updated Speak Up! gallery and NMC’s online platform, Amplify. The name OHSOTO’KINO, a Blackfoot phrase meaning ‘to recognize a voice of,’ honours the Blackfoot people and the land on which the National Music Centre stands.
Earlier this year, traditional powwow drum group Mountain Kree, Ojibwe queer singer-songwriter and beadworker Larissa Desrosiers, and award-winning fiddle player and composer Wesley Hardisty were awarded OHSOTO’KINO Recording Bursaries, granting them the opportunity to record a commercial album at Studio Bell. In June, the Speak Up! exhibition was also updated to feature a new lineup of Indigenous trailblazers, including Tudjaat, Crystal Shawanda, Andrea Menard, Jerry Alfred, and the Stoney Park Singers. The current exhibition will be on display until June 2027.
The OHSOTO’KINO Music Incubator Showcase and Reception takes place on September 17 at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $10 or $5 for NMC Members. Visit studiobell.ca/whats-on to get your tickets or to become an NMC Member and save on events, visit studiobell.ca/members.
About National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique
National Music Centre (NMC) is a registered charity dedicated to amplifying the love, sharing, and understanding of music in Canada. More than a museum, NMC focuses on five key areas: Exhibitions and Collections, Artist and Professional Development, Performance and Recording, Education and Learning, and Music and Wellness. From its headquarters at Studio Bell in the heart of Calgary’s East Village neighbourhood and satellite location in Montreal, NMC celebrates Canada’s rich musical legacy, honouring legendary artists, nurturing new voices, and bringing people together through music. NMC also houses a vast collection of rare instruments, artifacts and memorabilia, world-class recording studios, and four of Canada’s music halls of fame, including the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Quebec’s Adisq Hall of Fame. National Music Centre marks its 10th anniversary as Canada’s home for music in 2026, with a year-long lineup of exhibits, events, and programs planned. Visit studiobell.ca/10 to explore the full list of anniversary activities happening now through summer 2027. To check out the NMC experience online, visit amplify.nmc.ca.
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National Music Centre
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