The report indicated that Winnipeg is the city with the highest population percentage of both First Nations and Métis, at 3.6 per cent and 6.75 per cent, respectively, of the city’s total population. Half of Manitoba’s Aboriginal population is under 21 years of age, unlike the non-Aboriginal population, half of which is under 41. The median age of Manitoba’s Aboriginal population is 20 to 21 years, respectively – half that of the non-Aboriginal population. Additionally, almost one in five children under the age of 14 in Manitoba are First Nations, at 18.4 per cent of all children in the province.
Manitoba Music is one of many local organizations responding to this growing community. Aboriginal Music Program manager Alan Greyeyes has been part of the organization for nearly nine years.
“Manitoba Music is the only music industry association in Canada with resources dedicated to Aboriginal people,” says Greyeyes. “Winnipeg is the unofficial hub of the Aboriginal music community in Canada.”
Winnipeg is home to the largest Aboriginal radio network in Canada, NCI FM, which also operates Streetz FM and the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN).
“With one of the country’s biggest Aboriginal communities, there’s a sizable audience for concerts featuring Aboriginal artists,” says Greyeyes. “Our corporate community is really supportive of Aboriginal community events, which often feature concerts. Plus, the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, Aboriginal Music Week, APTN’s Aboriginal Day Live, and Manitoba Music’s Aboriginal Music Program are here.”
There are also a variety of service providers for young Aboriginal people in Winnipeg, including Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre Inc. (Ma Mawi), Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad Inc. (Ndinawe), and Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc.
Greyeyes explains that these service providers and Manitoba Music are working in tandem to provide the Aboriginal Music Mentors Program (AMP Mentors).
“This year we have partnerships with Ma Mawi and Ndinawe,” says Greyeyes. “They provide the venues and rally the youth for us. We’re also working on partnerships for presentations with the Spence Neighbourhood Association and Ka Ni Kanichihk.”
“The main goal of the AMP Mentors program is to encourage Aboriginal youth to pursue careers in the music industry,” says Greyeyes. “This is important because music is like any other industry in Manitoba; we need young people to fill the positions being vacated by retiring baby boomers. The main gaps that I think exist right now are in artist management and music production.”
AMP Mentors was launched in 2011. “Up until that point, I was doing all the outreach,” says Greyeyes. “The mentors program reached more young folks and is probably a heck of a lot more interesting than my presentations, since the artists aren’t as nerdy as I am.”
During the program, two mentors are available each week for free, hour-long consultations and presentations. Topics include creative and business-oriented issues, career advice, instrument lessons, songwriting feedback, beat-making tutorials, and feedback on media releases and artist bios. In-person bookings are available primarily in Winnipeg and the surrounding area. Mentor Rhonda Head will be available for consultations and group presentations in Opaskwayak Cree Nation and the surrounding area.
Greyeyes has advice for young people who want to be involved in the industry: “The thing that I always hear at music conferences and workshops is that the music is what matters the most. Great music will always rise to the top of the pile. So I think that the most important thing a young musician can do is to find out what they love and do it every day.”
Space is still available for AMP Mentors. Organizers will also try to accommodate individual consultation requests. Please contact Alan Greyeyes by email at alan@manitobamusic.com, or by phone at 204-975-0284.
Mentors available:
March 10 to 14: Billy Joe Green and Calvin Nepinak
March 17 to 21: Rhonda Head and Tim Hill
March 24 to 28: Patti Lamoureux and Kim Wheeler
March 31 to April 4: Billy Joe Green and Calvin Nepinak
April 7 to 11: Rhonda Head and Tim Hill
