b'MUSICAs for whats next, Kae wants to continue learning about the entertainment industry, fostering her network, and embracing opportunities to tell her story. Now that Ive reached beyond my immediate community, I want to keep growing as a person and use that growth to become a role model on a larger scale, she says. The whole idea for me is to say, Look at how cool we are and what our stories have to offer in a way that gets everyones attention.CHERI MARACLEHome is also where the musical heart lies for Cheri Maracle, an award-nominated singer, songwriter, and actor from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in Ontario. Like Sara Kae, Maracle grew up with a father who was a professional musician, as well as a sister with whom she would sing harmonies. While plans for a family band would eventually fade, her passion for performing would go on to inspire an entertainment career that has seen her on stages and in theatres around the world. Award-nominated singer, songwriter Maracles professional career was sparkedand actor Cheri Maracle from the Six when she moved to Toronto and formedNations of the Grand River Territoryher own hand drum band. Soon after, in 2006, she earned a grant to record her first album, Closer to Home, introducing her as a powerful new voice in the jazz genre. Jazz is sort of my first love, she tells She is Wise.her Indigenous history and heritage intomy dad was a survivor of that. He was an And its rare. I mean, there are not a lotevery note. Who I am as an Indigenousalcoholic and quite violent, but he was also of Indigenous women singers, so when mywoman is very much in my music, shea wonderfully funny, crazy, talented and jazz band got together it was pretty magical.says. Six Nations is what I call my homeintelligent man. He was an artist who had Over the years, weve really gelled; its beenreserve, but I grew up all over Canadadinner with the Queen at the height of his an amazing experience. on different reserves. And travelling thecareer and stuff, but he was also a troubled Maracle and her band went on to recordcountryside, we definitely saw racism at itsdude, and a lot of First Nations people grow two more albums, If I Am Water and Ache offinest all over Canada. up that way. When you grow up around Love, accruing awards and building a biggerI also grew up around a lot of hardships,thatall the colonialism, bouts of violence audience with every performance. Along thecontinues Maracle. My parents andand all the racismthat bleeds into who way, she adds, shes been proud to infusegrandparents went to residential school, andyou are.Gashkendamidee (Be Grieved from the Heart)Loss and Grief Support GroupFirst Nations Inuit Health Branch and Hospice Northwest offer a two-day Indigenous led support group. This group aims to empower and support individuals in their grief journey through the sharing of stories, understanding grief and its effects on us physically, emotionally, spiritually and socially. The support group offers a confidential safe place of acceptance without judgement or comparison in a culturally supportive environment. This workshop is free of charge, offered several times a year and throughout Northwestern Ontario.Please contact Hospice Northwest for more information at 807-626-557072Fall/Winter 2022'