Cal Johnson, of Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick, has been named as the first recipient of Music·Musique NB’s Indigenous Artist Development Program; an initiative created to provide an Indigenous artist with the tools, support and guidance to achieve a new musical project.
Announced early in 2021, the program, which was initiated and sponsored by Mi’kmaq Hip Hop artist and two-time ECMA-nominee Tristan Grant—better known as Wolf Castle. As a pilot project, the program was designed to help one individual—selected by an entirely Indigenous jury—by aiding with such crucial developmental steps as the production of a music video, developing online content, creating a sound recording, and expanding musical skills. Ultimately, however, the Indigenous Artist Development Program aims to grow and unify the Indigenous music community as a whole.
“We hope that this pilot project becomes a full-fledged recurring program,” says Jean Surette, Executive Director of MNB. “Our goal is to widen the scope and support many more emerging Indigenous artists.”
Cal Johnson is a multi-instrumentalist currently residing in Truro, where he is currently completing the Music Arts Program at NSCC. His 2018 short and sweet 4-song EP, Come and Go, blends the influences of jazz, folk-pop and blues, but his Indigenous roots come through as a creative fusion on “Wicuhkemin (Help Me).”
“Cal is a great guy and a talented musician! His project stood out to all of us on the jury as it was not only a fantastic idea but a great cause that will move the culture forwards,” says Grant.
Although residing in Truro, Nova Scotia may have disqualified Johnson from many of MNB’s programs, Surette and Grant concluded that the spirit of the Indigenous Artist Development Program would necessitate a more inclusive approach.
“Tristan and I had a great discussion about settler borders VS Wabanaki territory; on how it’s weird that artists in Listuguj would be excluded from this program, yet they live and work on the same territory as other Miꞌkmaq,” says Surette. “We decided to see who would apply but we agreed that settler borders should not be the deal-breaker….
“So when the jury got together (all indigenous), they all felt the same way. In the end, the project chosen is deeply rooted in Wəlastəkwewiyik culture and was kind of an unofficial follow-up to Jeremy Dutcher’s project. Really cool project.”
Similar to Dutcher’s Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa, Johnson plans to re-record a series of traditional Wolastoqiyik songs that have been previously recorded by Elders from the Tobique First Nation community. He will then re-imagine these songs with full musical accompaniment to be released as an EP. Johnson will be supported throughout his project by Wolf Castle as well as by the Music·Musique NB team.