Video

Talking Stick shines a spotlight on artists and new music from the local Indigenous music community. It also offers the artists a chance to add professional-filmed videos to their own marketing toolkits, which can be critical for career advancement and accessing new markets in a business that relies on exceptional live video more than ever.

Anishinaabe and settler singer-songwriter Ila Barker launches the new season on January 20, 2023. Coming up: country act Jerry Sereda on January 27, hip hop artist Stun on February 17, and Metis singer/songwriter and actress Victoria Turko on February 24.

Manitoba-based musician Jerry Sereda is a decorated Country artist who can't help but capture music fans everywhere he goes. With his gripping and energetic live performances, Jerry celebrates his Indigenous heritage by weaving personal stories and experiences into his delightfully catchy songs. Beginning his music career as the winner of a local music contest who earned the opportunity to record his first single, the 2010 Indigenous Music Awards Best New Artist has firmly established his roots in the Canadian Country music scene. Drawing comparisons to the vocal and live performance style of Country legends Garth Brooks and Tim McGraw, Jerry has shared the stage with prominent Country artists including four-time JUNO award winner Johnny Reid and Canadian Country Music Association award recipient Jason Blaine.

Produced with Kejic Productions, a Winnipeg-based company owned and operated by Cree/Ojibway producer and director Erica Daniels, Talking Stick was filmed on location in the light-filled space at the Southeast Resource Development Council’s Wellness Lodge.

“We’re so excited to share a new season of Talking stick and support these four inspiring artists and their creative work,” says host and producer Shaneen Robinson-Desjarlais, the Indigenous Music Development Coordinator at Manitoba Music. “We’re grateful to the artists, to Erica and the team at Kejic for helping bring this vision to fruition and of course to the funders for making this series possible.”

IMDP was launched in 2004 to support First Nation, Métis, and Inuit artists and music companies develop sustainable careers in the music industry. The program delivers projects and services that respond to the needs of the industry as identified by a steering committee. IMDP is supported by the Province of Manitoba and Manitoba Film & Music.