“Connection, Healing, and Love for All People”

The Indigenous hand drum group featuring roaring eleven-year-old vocalist, Noah Green, and his grandmother, Carol Powder, have been taking the internet by storm and wowing audiences all across Turtle Island.

Singing by eight months old and having his own drum months later, Noah began performing live at the age of two. Steeped in traditional Cree music and culture, Carol has taught all of her children and grandchildren, and was herself trained at a young age by her then ninety-nine year old grandfather. “In the future, you’re going to be a singer”, she recalls him saying. “You’re going to help bring these women back to the drum because that’s where they belong. Children belong there. Why? Because that’s the only time anyone’s going to heal.”

For the past few years the group have been playing non-stop around their hometown of Edmonton, at both traditional powwow events and as a go-to artist at events in support of women’s rights, the environment and the marginalized of society. Channeling the authentic spirit of Cree music and its healing power to unite people, the group’s powerful performances have often brought audience members to tears.

In October 2019 Chubby Cree played to five thousand people gathered outside the Alberta legislature building, opening for environmentalist Greta Thunberg. With that performance the group attracted national press coverage, and the video took off online, receiving over a million views. Since then, the group has gone viral numerous times on platforms such as Tik Tok and Reddit.

The viral fame has not undone the close family bond that exists. Living under one roof with 10 other family members, they regularly practice and perform together. Carol hopes future generations will continue the tradition, so that it is not lost, bringing people together through healing and artistic connection.

Now with the world watching the group has attracted international attention from both fans and the music industry alike. The group recently signed with label and management company, Unbelievably Spectacular, and have been fielding calls from the Ellen Degeneres Show, Little Big People television and “America’s Got Talent”. They’re also heading into the studio with multi platinum, Grammy award winning Indigenous producer David Strickland, best known for his work with artists like Drake, Sade, Method Man and many more.

This is a riveting and heartwarming story in the making; of courage, determination and raw talent, fused with keeping a valuable heritage alive and paying it forward into the future. We will be there as it unfolds.

Joe Keesickquayash, is of Ojibway and Cree background from Mishkeegogamang Ontario, and Red Sucker Lake, Manitoba. He is a father of five and has one grandchild. Joe graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in Indigenous Studies and History. Currently Joe is working towards starting his own Indigenous craft business, and attends traditional ceremonies throughout the year.

In 2017, Joe and his family experienced the loss of their three year old son, who was born with a rare genetic condition During his son’s odyssey, Joe and his family remained hopeful that a diagnosis would be found to bring understanding to their son’s medical journey, and more so, to help support their grief journey. 

Although the path to find a diagnosis was challenging as a father, Joe hopes that by sharing his grief journey, and his traditional approaches to understanding grief, he can help others who are experiencing grief and loss.

Susan Dowan is of Swampy Cree background from Opaskwayak Cree Nation and Gods Lake Narrows – located in Manitoba’s Treaty 5 territory. She is a mother of five and grandmother of one.  After graduating from the University of Toronto, she worked with Indigenous women and families at risk of violence for a number of years. Currently Susan works for a reconciliation project called Circles for Reconciliation. 

Sgaalaanglaay, Gaamdaamaay (Vernon Williams Jr.) belongs to Kuunlaanaas Raven Grizzly Bear of Yakin Point Haida Gwaii, Vernon is a Haida Nishga.