International Indigenous Music Summit serves up a sampler of what’s to come

A sure way to start your week on a good note is music, and this week started with the International Indigenous Music Summit (IIMS) gala. The event runs from June 2nd to 6th across venues all over Toronto and brings in Indigenous music and performance talent from all around the globe.

In Canada, June is both Pride Month and National Indigenous History Month, and both of these celebrations came to an intersection with the evening’s host, Chelazon Leroux. Chelazon is a Dene drag performer, comedian, model, and activist who introduced evening’s performers with comedy and heartfelt conversations about their two identities (Indigenous and two-spirit). Chelazon’s mid-show drag performance was one of high energy and high entertainment value.

The room was filled with people speaking an impressive diversity of languages, all dressed to the nines, many in traditional wear, sporting ribbon skirts, beaded accessories, and impeccably made jewellery. The voices on stage were equally impressive, often showcasing vocal range that reaches for the inner layers of the soul.

Northern Cree were the first to take the stage. This powwow and Round Dance drum and singing group formed in 1982 in Maskwacis, Alberta. Many attendees were familiar with the group, embracing the tradition with a Round Dance to “Red Skin Gal”. While the full powwow group can reach as many as 14 participants tonight we got to see five, including one of the founding brothers, Charlie Wood of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation.

Fiddler from Manitoba, Alex Kusturok, was up next. Accompanied by two pianos, Alex brought the room to their feet dancing to Métis fiddle music, sharing dance steps with the crowd and tapping along himself.

And then there was Sara Curruchich, whose performance seemed to be a surprise for all. Guatemalan singer and songwriter of Kaqchikel descent Sara, sings in Spanish and the Kaqchikel language, and for this evening, she tried her best to integrate some English. Joined on stage by a Xylophone player, drummer, and bass, Sara brought her own flavour of revolutionary, Indigenous spirit to Toronto’s TD Music Hall. “Being a woman in Guatemala is an act of resistance,” her bio states, and so naturally, much of her music focuses on female empowerment. Sara’s performance not only inspired a second Round Dance, but got everyone to the front of the stage, including the elders.

Canada’s national treasure Tanya Tagaq closed out the evening. After introducing her drummer and cellist, she explained her performance to the room. Unlike the traditional throat singing duet (as seen with Silla and Rise last year), Tanya performs mixed vocalisations solo. “This might get weird,” she said with the sweetest voice, “but there are two exits, if you need them,” the room chuckled. On that note, the sweetness was over, and an unearthly vocal performance began. Tagaq’s vocal and voice range is absolutely astonishing, it’s like she is hunted and hunting all at the same time. Moth curled, eyes closed, hands reaching out into the distance, her presence completely fills the space.

The opening night gala always serves as a sampler of what’s to come at IIMS. Each night, multiple venues bring tighter artists of all genres from hip hop to folk across the city’s independent venues, making it an ideal event to open up your sound palette, even if just a little bit.