Cikwes

BIO/DESCRIPTION

Cikwes, a 2023 Juno Nominee is a nehiyaw ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐤ soul singer and songwriter from Bigstone Cree Nation. She currently resides in Amiskwaciy Waskahikan, also known as Edmonton, Alberta. Her recent album, kâkîsimo ᑳᑮᓯᒧᐤ, a full length Cree language album, was nominated for the 2023 Juno Awards for Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year. kâkîsimo ᑳᑮᓯᒧᐤ has received national attention including a nomination for and the 2023 Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards for Pow Wow, Hand Drum, Fiddle, Instrumental Album of the Year and the 2023 Edmonton’s Music Prize. In 2019, her debut album ISKO was nominated for the Indigenous Music Awards for the Best Folk Album of the Year. Cikwes recently graduated from York University with her Masters in Music in Fall 2022. Her music explores her Cree language, nêhiyawêwin ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐁᐧᐃᐧᐣ and nehiyaw ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐤ musical methods that include chanting cahkasinahikanak ᒐᐦᑲᓯᓇᐦᐃᑲᐣ also known as spirit markers or syllabics. Her intimate performances are accompanied with stories, laughter and meaning to her songs. Using her breath and the Cree syllabics she invokes a feeling of comfort similar to that of a wepisowin, a traditional baby swing. She is a matriarch for the beauty and revitalization of the Cree language and Nehiyaw musical methods. Cikwes will be sure to mesmerize you with her beautiful voice as she sings with her ancestors to Manito (the great mystery).