Celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day with free admission at Studio Bell! Explore the Speak Up! exhibition and enjoy live performances from Beatrice Deer and Norvin Eagle Speaker with a vibrant ensemble of powwow dancers.
Join us on June 21 for a special program celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day, presented as part of the National Music Centre’s OHSOTO’KINO initiative.
Hosted by David McLeod, curator of the National Music Centre’s Speak Up! exhibition, this free live event will feature performances from Inuk-Mohawk artist Beatrice Deer at 10:45 am and 12:45 pm. Melding indie rock, modern folk, and traditional throat singing, and performing in Inuktitut, English, and French, Deer’s music bridges worlds — cultural, musical, and spiritual.
Opening the program, Blackfoot traditional singer Norvin Eagle Speaker will take the stage alongside Takota Eagle Speaker (Grass Dancer) and Miracle Eagle Speaker (Fancy Dancer).
Admission to Studio Bell is free for everyone from 10 am to 5 pm on June 21 in celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day. Guests are invited to explore the newly refreshed Speak Up! exhibition, reopening on June 18, which showcases five Indigenous trailblazers — including Beatrice Deer.
About Beatrice Deer
Beatrice Deer is an acclaimed "Inuindie" pop artist whose music bridges worlds—cultural, musical, and spiritual. Born in Nunavik, Quebec, to an Inuk mother and Mohawk father, she grew up with music in her home and in her heart. Now based in Montréal, Beatrice has crafted a sound all her own, blending indie rock, modern folk, and traditional throat singing, and performing in Inuktitut, English, and French.
Her seven studio albums trace a path of artistic evolution and cultural preservation. Her latest, Little Songs, breathes new life into traditional Inuit songs for children, honoring heritage while reaching new generations.
Beatrice's voice has resonated far beyond the North, taking her to stages around the world—from the Venice Biennale to Norway’s Førde Festival and Phoenix’s Heard Museum. Her bandmates, drawn from Montréal’s vibrant scene, have played with the likes of Leif Vollebekk, Stars, and Little Scream.
Her accolades include a Canadian Folk Music Award, an Indigenous Music Award, and a Canadian Screen Award for co-composing the score for Giant Bear. She was named an Apple Ambassador and received the Prism Prize in 2021. Her music has topped charts, and her score for Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman’s Apprentice helped earn the film an Academy Award nomination.
More than a performer, Beatrice is a role model and mental health advocate, using her voice to uplift, heal, and inspire. Her music tells the story of resilience and identity—proof that song can carry both the weight of tradition and the spark of change.
About Speak Up!
Since its launch in 2019, the Speak Up! exhibition has celebrated 32 influential Indigenous artists from across Canada who have made a lasting impact on culture through music. Through powerful storytelling, immersive audio, and personal artifacts, Speak Up! invites visitors to explore how these artists are using their voices to spark dialogue, inspire change, and share what it means to be First Nations, Métis, and Inuit in Canada. Five new artists will be added to the exhibition on June 18, and will feature Beatrice Deer, Ray St. Germain, Harry Rusk, Kelly Fraser, and Dakhká Khwáan Dancers.
About OHSOTO’KINO
OHSOTO’KINO is an Indigenous programming initiative focusing on three elements: creation of new music in NMC’s recording studios, artist development through a music incubator program, and exhibitions via the annually updated Speak Up! gallery.
With support from TD, and building on the groundwork already laid in previous years, NMC is creating more opportunities for Indigenous artists to produce new music and develop their skills, and continuing to amplify the stories of Indigenous musicians and their contributions to Canadian culture. OHSOTO’KINO is a Blackfoot phrase, which means ‘to recognize a voice of.’ This title acknowledges the Blackfoot people and the territory on which National Music Centre resides. NMC’s National Indigenous Programming Advisory Committee will lead the direction of the initiative designed to forge stronger bridges of understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.