When Fort SmithSA国际影视传媒檚 Veronica Johnny arrived in New Orleans, it was to fill future stages with Indigenous artists.

The Johnnys, comprised of her and her husband Dave, joined dozens of musicians for The International Indigenous Music Summit, held from Jan. 22 to 26. Other NWT musicians that made the trek south include singer-songwriter Leela Gilday and rocker Digawolf.

The summit hosts a number of showcases, where the acts play short sets introducing themselves and the North to an international music industry. 

At the Johnnys showcase, the band opened with Your Girl, a song dedicated to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. At the end of the song, The Johnnys invite audience members to sing, asking them to join in the tribute.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 one of the ways the Johnnys aim to support Indigenous voices in the music industry.

Originally, from Fort Smith, the band is currently based in Ontario, while making frequent trips back to NWT. For Veronica Johnny, the bandSA国际影视传媒檚 presence helps make way for the next generation of artists in the territory.

SA国际影视传媒淚 feel like me living my dream and me being myself helps people in my home territory SA国际影视传媒� people back in Fort Smith, and Hay River, in Yellowknife, in Inuvik, in Fort Simpson SA国际影视传媒� it helps people see that can do it too.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淏ecause (back home), ISA国际影视传媒檓 just Veronica,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e out here and weSA国际影视传媒檙e doing it.SA国际影视传媒�

She said the bandSA国际影视传媒檚 work at the summit was about claiming space for Indigenous artists who hadnSA国际影视传媒檛 necessarily been seen in the industry previously. For her, that includes clearing time for younger and emerging Indigenous musicians.

SA国际影视传媒�(ItSA国际影视传媒檚) decolonizing the music industry, bringing in culture, bringing in family, bringing in self-care bringing in connection,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

While the band looked to build contacts and rally support for their music SA国际影视传媒� which includes crowdfunding for an album SA国际影视传媒� she recalled these connections included experiences like bonding with Australian artists over mutual experiences of forest fires.

Her husband and bandmate Dave added that starting the Johnnys in Fort Smith lends a humble, down to earth quality to the bandSA国际影视传媒檚 music.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think that comes from the North and our community and our friends and trying to connect with people as people,SA国际影视传媒� he said. 

Rock musician Digawolf also attended the New Orleans summit. He said he was taken with the hotel rooms crammed with new musicians. 

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 buzzing with music everywhere you go, which is pretty awesome,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 blown away.SA国际影视传媒�

Visiting New Orleans, and sites like the French Quarter, also meant reconnecting with some of the birthplaces of the blues influences in his music SA国际影视传媒� something he put on display as he performed a showcase.

At the performance, he said he had the audience howling like wolves during the breaks in his song, The North, as he introduced the audience to NWT as SA国际影视传媒淐anada, then you go further.SA国际影视传媒� 

He said that all the jams and showcases contribute to make contacts, friends and community over music. Ultimately, he said, heSA国际影视传媒檚 grateful to represent the NorthSA国际影视传媒檚 musics alongside artists like Gilday and the Johnnys.

SA国际影视传媒淚 feel that itSA国际影视传媒檚 an honour to share my language in the songs that I write and I let them know ISA国际影视传媒檓 from Behchoko, outside of Yellowknife,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淵ou have to sort of let them know where that is.SA国际影视传媒�