Anishinabek musician featured at Thunder Bay’s Canada Day celebrations

By Rick Garrick

THUNDER BAY — Juno Awards 2024 singer of the year Aysanabee and the Collaboration Project: PERSONS UNKNOWN, which included Fort William’s Nolan Schmerk, were featured at Thunder Bay’s Canada Day on the Waterfront event at Marina Park.

“To come here and have this great reception was incredible,” says Aysanabee, a Sandy Lake citizen who grew up in Kaministiquia, located just west of Thunder Bay. “It was an honour to be asked to play on Canada Day. I know there’s a lot of mixed feelings around the day, I have a lot of peers who chose not to perform today, but I still think it’s very important for Indigenous people to come and have our voices here. People can celebrate the good things that were achieved but also reflect on the not-so-good things — today is a celebration, but also a deep reflection.”

Aysanabee shared some stories about his grandfather, who passed in 2023, during his performance.

“That last song always gets me a little bit, Nomads,” Aysanabee says. “Just getting to hear his voice in that song, it’s always kind of like a heavy moment to hear that voice, to come to terms with that he is no longer with us, but he is, through these songs and through his stories. I got to spend the whole year talking to him and hearing all his stories, as many as he could remember, and got to be there with him for his final moments. So I’m grateful I took the time and I spent time to be there for family.”

Fort William’s Laura’lee Penasie enjoyed seeing Aysanabee’s performance from the centre front of the stage.

“As soon as the last [performer] got off, I immediately booked it to the front,” Penasie says. “I loved it, I love Aysanabee, I saw him at Wake the Giant two years ago and now I’m like stuck. I loved it, I was so happy to see him.”

Red Rock Indian Band’s Ron Kanutski, who was emcee for the main stage at the Canada Day on the Waterfront event, shared part of Aysanabee’s performance via livestream.

“I did a couple of livestreams, put them out there so people could see what was going on here today,” Kanutski says. “Aysanabee is number one in my books; right from when I first saw him as a solo artist, I was mesmerized by his musicianship. His voice is very unique, it’s just mesmerizing.”

Kanutski adds that Aysanabee’s 2024 Juno Awards for Songwriter of the Year and Alternative Album of the Year had never been done by an Indigenous artist before.

“So I think Thunder Bay was very lucky to have him come home, he’s from Kaministiquia, and it was just a gift to see the support that he received from the community,” Kanutski says. “His songs have meaning, of course, and his connection to his grandfather — I think that’s what makes it special.”

Schmerk, who performed with Martin Blanchet and for a couple of songs with Fort William Elder Sheila DeCorte, says the inspiration for his music was the beat poets from the 1950s.

“And just over the years, I’ve been a die-hard hip hop fan, the guys who have a lot to say, the conscious rap has always been something I’ve gravitated towards and having something to say when you’re on the microphone,” Schmerk says. “It was great, it was spectacular — it was just good to see some faces, some bodies grooving to the bass line so I know I did the right thing by having Martin join me on the stage.”

Schmerk says Aysanabee’s success in music is an inspiration to others to do what makes them feel good too.

“I think that’s the Zaagidiwin, love conquers all,” Schmerk says. “That’s my message too and I think if everyone is authentic and doing their own thing, it’s going to make the world a better place.”