DJ Kookum is an Indigenous-renowned DJ and producer from the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation
and based in Vancouver, BC. Known for her versatile skills and ability to transcend genres,
Kookum is always cooking, keeping the atmosphere alive, fresh, and electrifying. Blending
EDM, hip hop, bass music, and global sounds, Kookum creates high-energy performances that
resonate with music lovers of all backgrounds. With an extensive music library, Kookum ensures
each performance is tailored to the crowd, igniting a shared sense of connection through the power of music.

This international star has taken her performances across the globe, captivating audiences in
Germany, Australia, Mexico, and America. Closer to home, Kookum has graced some of
Canada's most prestigious events and festivals including Basscoast, Bastid’s BBQ, Vancouver
Indigenous Fashion Week, Nuit Blanche Toronto, Ted Talks after party, and the Vancouver
Michelin awards, among many others. Aside from her reputable solo career, Kookum has been
DJing for the hip hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids for nearly a decade, performing and touring across North America.

Beyond her musical prowess, DJ Kookum is a facilitator, mentor, and motivator. By fearlessly
breaking boundaries and celebrating her identity, she sets an inspiring example for aspiring DJs
and producers around the world. Through her groundbreaking work and dedication, she leaves a
significant mark on the music industry, proving that women play a vital role in electronic music.

In 2017, Winnipeg-based Anishinaabe and settler folk-soul musician Ila Barker held a guitar on her lap as a friend confided in her the details of an abusive relationship. Barker sang her friend’s words back to her, softly strumming the strings and turning anguish into a serendipitous self-serenade. Eventually that song became the title track of Barker’s debut full-length album, Fool Under Water, a tough-but-tender testament to the possibility of survival, forged as she swam ashore herself.

To write Fool Under Water, Barker spent seven years reflecting on her own survival, alongside that of the women around her. The elegantly rugged candor at the heart of the album’s storytelling was amassed through experience.

“My first thought as I started packing my bags to leave was ‘what am I going to do?’” says Barker. “My second thought was ‘but damn, these are gonna be some good songs.’”

Barker’s astute observations and vulnerable introspection create a safe basin for those still swimming their way through rough waters.

“I want listeners to have a moment to grieve the things that they've gone through, but also to picture a future that is brighter,” she says.

On lead single “Intuition,” Barker sagely sings “Trust yourself, you know best,” reminding all of us to listen closely to our own truths when we feel we might be sinking.

After years of writing, Barker recorded Fool Under Water at Winnipeg’s No Fun Club studio alongside producers Sierra Noble and Rusty Matyas in August 2021.

“A lot of people think I took a break from music. The truth is I was in survival mode,” she says.

Barker has played the Regina Folk Festival, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, the sākihiwē festival, and opened for Jeremy Dutcher’s sold out performance at the Indian River Festival in PEI.

Through her work as founding curator with AIRsessions, a series of free music workshops for youth, Barker advocates for gender equity and Indigenous representation in music. “I have found a deeper connection with my community and the Indigenous music community through my music journey,” she says.

Listeners of Tinge are transported to the '90s through heartfelt grunge and emotion. Their songs fuse gritty guitar riffs and a dynamic vocal range to craft a sound that is unapologetically bold and deeply personal. Led by 2-spirit Anishinaabe artist Veronica Blackhawk, their themes explore loss of culture, reclamation, and healing. Their Debut EP “Big Deep Sigh” was released in 2023 to critical acclaim, including a highlight among “Five Indigenous Artists you Need to Know” by the Grammy Awards, and named one of the top 15 EPs of 2023 by EXCLAIM! Magazine.

“Blackhawk has described that debut, Big Deep Sigh, as an exhalation, releasing years of pent-up emotion with a cleansing breath. But while it may be the culmination of one part of their story, it’s also a start of a new path, a steadying breath before a much bigger journey. Blackhawk has found their voice, and they’ve found their people. It’s clearly just the beginning.”

-Calgary Folk Festival