As a musical complement to the aabaakwad (it clears after a storm) international conference taking place from September 13-September 15 at the Art Gallery of Ontario, AGO Friday Nights program will be hosting two local music artists performing live in Walker Court. 

Lacey Hill is Oneida of Six Nations, Wolf Clan. She is a singer/songwriter and inspirational speaker. Lacey went solo launching her debut album titled 528, independently. Her sophomore album 528 Volume II M has taken Lacey across Canada and on to international stages. Recently Lacey opened Sydney Australia’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 40th Anniversary concert and Cher closed. Lacey is a Featured artist at Thru the Red Door Studios and she has also been a guest on Derek Miller’s Aboriginal Peoples Network Television show The Guilt Free Zone Season 3. 2018 is a big year for Lacey, in addition to TV appearances and playing on international stages she is also getting into the theatre scene as she composes music for Tara Beagans' theater performance 'Deer Woman' which has its World Premier in New Zealand in June.

Cris Derksen is an Indigenous cellist/composer known for building layers of sound into captivating performances. Originally from Northern Alberta, there is a line of chiefs from North Tall Cree reserve on her father's side and a line of strong Mennonite homesteaders on her mother’s side. Her music braids the traditional and contemporary in multiple dimensions, weaving her traditional classical training and her Aboriginal ancestry with new school electronics, creating genre defying music.

Cris's 3rd Studio Album released in 2015, The Orchestral Powwow Project, was conceived by Derksen and Robert Todd of the Tribal Spirit Powwow label, and responds to a perceived need to truly incorporate Indigenous artists in art that claims Indigenous credit. After an exploration with Robert of ideas around what defines Orchestral Powwow, Cris spent a year composing and transcribing using Tribal Spirit’s library of powwow albums. 

Cris composes for Dance, Theater, Film, TV and documentaries. Composer credits include 8th Fire, a 4-part television mini-series for CBC TV; ReQuickening, NEOindegina, and TransMigration for Kaha:wi Dance, 2012, 2014, 2016, People of a Feather a feature film - Joel Heath and the Community of Sanikiluaq - 2011.

Cris’ additional credits include 2016 Instrumental Album Juno nomination, and performing with some of Canada’s elite musicians including Buffy Sainte Marie, Tanya Tagaq, Kanye West, Naomi Klein and A Tribe Called Red to name a few.