David Evalik grew up in Iqaluktuuttiaq/Cambridge Bay, NU. He picked up the guitar at the residential schools he attended in Inuvik and Yellowknife. David performed with the band “The Centennaires” for the Canadian Centennial celebrations in 1967. Today, David still plays with his band, “The Delta Good Time Band” in the Kitikmeot and Mackenzie Delta region.

Ted Wesley moved to Yellowknife in the early 1960s and married Leslie Harder. Later they formed “The Tundra Folk” trio with Andy Steen. In 1967 they performed on the Centennial barge and toured the high arctic in a Cessna 185. Ted recorded 3 albums between 1973 -77. His third, “North of Canada” sold more than 70,000 albums and earned a Juno nomination for Country Male Vocalist of the Year. Ted and Leslie Wesley were among the original founders of the “Folk on the Rocks” music festival in 1980.

Metis-Cree musician Elsie Justus (Burger) is from High Prairie, AB. Her father played fiddle and when she was 12 years old, he taught her to play the guitar so she could accompany him. In the late 1950s, with young family and her ‘bull fiddle’ in tow, Elsie moved north, eventually settling in Pine Point, NT to work at the mine. There, she played with her band “The Pine Tones” at the Pine Point Hotel through the 1970s.

Wally Firth is a Metis fiddler from Teetł'it Zheh / Fort McPherson, NT. He started working for the Hudson Bay Co. in the early 1950s and later worked for the CBC in Yellowknife and Inuvik. In the 1972 federal election, Wally successfully ran for the NDP and served two terms as the NWT’s first indigenous MP. Wally is a passionate musician who carries the combined histories of the Gwichin and Inuvialuit people of the Mackenzie Delta as well as the history of the traditional fiddle music of the region.

Wilf Schidlowsky started out playing guitar in various old time bands in Humboldt, SK in the mid 1940s and went on to become a schoolteacher. In 1964, he responded to a newspaper ad looking for people to “Teach in Canada’s Northland” and was hired over the phone a short time later. In Yellowknife, Wilf played with local bands, “The Alley Cats” and “Easy Street” in the bars and community halls until 1977. Wilf Schidlowsky passed away in 2016.

Metis guitar player George Mandeville is from Denı́nu Kų́ę́ / Fort Resolution, NT. He was just 10 years old when he picked up a guitar. George attended high school in Yellowknife, boarded at Akaitcho Hall and played with the band, “The Auroras”. After he graduated, he stayed on in Yellowknife, worked as a carpenter and raised a family. At 9 years old, George’s son, Lee picked up the fiddle. Since then the father-son duo has released 3 CDs of traditional Metis fiddle music and performed on national and international stages, sharing and celebrating their Metis traditions.

Archie Loutitt was born, raised and lived his life in Sǫ̀mbak'è / Yellowknife, NT. His mother bought him a guitar for 5 dollars when he was 12 years old and Archie started to play at house parties in the early 1950s. He went on to play the old town speakeasies, the clubrooms, the rec halls and the dance halls in town. Archie founded one of Yellowknife’s acclaimed bands, “Northbound Freeway”. Archie Loutitt passed away in 2018.

Dehghaot'ine / South Slavey musician Albert Canadien is from Zhahti Kue / Fort Providence, NT. He played guitar for his first fiddle dance when he was 14 years old. In 1964, Albert went to school in Alberta where he joined a band of other young, indigenous musicians. Through many opportunities and misfortunes, they became “The Chieftones, Canada’s all Indian Band’, and went on to tour the US with the Beach Boys, Jerry Lee Lewis, Diana Ross and many other iconic pop stars in the 1960s.

Chipewyan musician, Tony Buggins found his passion for music at the fiddle dances in his home community of Denı́nu Kų́ę́ / Fort Resolution, NT in the late 1950s and early 1960s. One of the founding members of “The Native Cousins”, he toured throughout the NT and western Canada. Tony worked as a Chipewyan interpreter and through the years, has always kept his guitar and his music close to his heart.

Alex Czarnecki was a musician, composer, producer, director and film maker. In the 1960s, he played tenor saxophone with the Montreal Jazz ensemble, “The Island City Seven”. He landed a job as a teacher and moved to Yellowknife in 1972. A tour de force in the Yellowknife arts scene, Alex played with the bands “East Street” and “The Alley Cats” and directed more than 50 community theatre productions. As a film maker, he produced a legacy of insightful films about the north in cultural transition. Alex Czarnecki passed away in 2019.

Deninu Metis Fiddler, Angus Beaulieu is from Denı́nu Kų́ę́ / Fort Resolution, NT. He has played his fiddle on many northern and national stages for almost 70 years. Angus is one of the few remaining musicians to carry the history of traditional fiddle music of the north in his stories and his music. A mentor to generations of northern musicians, Angus is a founding member of the celebrated band, “The Native Cousins”.

Kevin Mackie grew up in Xátł’odehchee / Hay River, NT and started to play drums in 1965. He attended high school in Yellowknife and boarded at Akaitcho Hall from 1968 to 1971. There, Kevin joined up with some other Akaitcho Hall and local Yellowknife musicians to form the celebrated band “UM²”, the “Universal Music Machine”. Since his high school years at Akaitcho Hall, Kevin has played drums for many of Yellowknife’s long standing bands and along the way become an accomplished songwriter.

Respected Metis fiddler, Richard Lafferty is from Zhahti Kue / Fort Providence, NT. He learned the Old Time and Metis fiddle songs from his grandfather, his uncles and from the Scottish and French settlers who traveled past his community on the Mackenzie / Deh Cho river . In 1960, Richard went to high school in Yellowknife and boarded at Akaitcho Hall where he learned the guitar and mandolin and played gigs with the band “The Arctic Ramblers”. Throughout his life, Richard has played for old time fiddle dance house parties to major event stages across Canada.

Metis Singer/Songwriter Tom Hudson hails from Tthebacha / Fort Smith, NT. He found his voice early, singing along with the pop songs of the day. Tom attended high school in Yellowknife, boarded at Akaitcho Hall and was the lead singer for the acclaimed band, “UM², “The Universal Music Machine”. Tom worked, raised his family and continued to sing with many local bands over many decades while living in Yellowknife