Minoshkite Indigenous Music & Arts Festival Returns to Ottawa for Two Nights in November!

Performances by Amanda Rheaume, Reuben and The Bullhorn Singers, Sebastian Gaskin, Mimi O’Bonsawin, Drives The Common Man, and many more! 

Ottawa, October 29, 2025 - The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF), Red Music Rising (RMR) and Canada’s Music Incubator (CMI) are proud to present the third year of the Minoshkite (Mee-No-Shkeet) Indigenous Music & Arts Festival.

This year marks an exciting milestone as the festival expands to two nights, November 13th and 14th 2025, at The Bronson Centre, celebrating Indigenous artistry, culture, and resilience through live performances, educational programming, and community connection. This pay-what-you-can (suggested $10 ticket) event supports the festival’s mission with all proceeds going to support DWF’s programs, campaigns, and events.

“DWF is proud to partner with RMR and CMI again this year on Minoshkite, and we are incredibly grateful to be the recipient of the funds raised through the festival. Events like Minoshkite connect Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples through art, culture, and celebration, and provide a meaningful opportunity to answer Gord’s call to ‘Do Something’ to move reconciliation forward,” shares Sarah Midanik, President & CEO, Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund

Feature performers include:

• Thursday November 13th 2025

  • Amanda Rheaume

  • Mimi O'Bonsawin

  • Aspects

  • Qattuu

• Friday November 14th 2025

  • Reuben and the Bullhorn Singers

  • Sebastian Gaskin

  • Drives the Common Man

  • Siibii

Theland Kicknosway, an Anishinaabe and Cree hoop dancer, speaker, and storyteller, will host both nights.

Minoshkite - which translates to “music to the ears” in Algonquin - brings together celebrated Indigenous artists from across Canada. Programming will also include student and community engagement led by DWF.

"Minoshkite is more than a festival, it’s a gathering rooted in creativity, community and celebration,” says Matt Maw, president of Red Music Rising, a full-service artist management company and record label, owned and managed entirely by Indigenous individuals. “For its third edition in Ottawa, we’re excited to expand to two days of Indigenous voices and visions, all under the banner of giving back. With a Pay-What-You-Can model and every dollar going to the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, this year’s event is about access, and intention. We’re not just celebrating culture – we’re investing in it for future generations to come."

Minoshkite is made possible thanks to the support of the Canada Council for the Arts. This project is also funded in part by the Government of Canada through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund.

Supporting sponsors include Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), and The Bronson Centre Music Theatre.

Minoshkite is a reconciliACTION - a meaningful action that moves reconciliation forward. ReconciliACTIONs brings Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together in the spirit of reconciliation to create awareness, share, and learn.

We acknowledge Ottawa is built on un-ceded Anishinabe Algonquin territory. The peoples of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation have lived on this territory for millennia. Their culture and presence have nurtured and continue to nurture this land.

Partner and sponsor information

Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Our goal is to improve the lives of Indigenous people by building awareness, education, and connections between all peoples in Canada. 

Launched in January 2020 in partnership with Dadan Sivunivut, Red Music Rising is a holistic music company. A full-service artist management company and record label, owned and managed entirely by Indigenous individuals, with a mission to help develop robust, sustainable, life-long careers for Indigenous artists and industry professionals. Matt Maw (Chippewas of the Thames First Nation) is Red Music Rising’s President & Lead Artist Manager. Matt brings over a decade of multi-faceted music industry experience to Red Music Rising, along with a passion for artist development and a mission to amplify Canada's Indigenous talent on the global stage.

Canada’s Music Incubator (CMI) is a Toronto-based national not-for-profit organization specializing in professional development, ongoing mentorship and live events for artists, managers, and music companies. Launched in 2012, CMI supports 1,800+ emerging music entrepreneurs, of all genres, in the development of long-term careers and sustainable businesses. CMI has provided 13,500+ hours of professional development programs and one-on-one mentorship. CMI Live works with private and community partners across the country curating paid performance opportunities for artists. To date, CMI has programmed 2,000+ shows and paid over $3.3 million directly to artists.

The Canada Council for the Arts is Canada’s national public arts funder, with a mandate to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts. Through its grants, services, prizes, initiatives, and payments, the Canada Council supports a dynamic and diverse arts and literary scene. These activities generate a meaningful economic, cultural and social impact for over 2,000 communities in all parts of the country and beyond. The investments and leadership of the Council help advance public engagement in the arts from coast to coast to coast while also contributing to the international recognition of artists and arts organizations from Canada.