b'MEDIUMS: INDIGENOUS VOICES IN MEDIAESSENTIAL READS AND MUSIC BY INDIGENOUS AUTHORS AND STORYTELLERS BY ASHLEY ALBERTMUSICPrecious Diamonds by Adrian Sutherland Adrian Sutherland is a musician from Attawapiskat First Nation. He lives and works in his remote fly-in community in northern Ontario, and might be the only professional recording artist doing so. Sutherland is fluent in his native language. His lived experience gives him a firsthand perspective on issues that plague other First Nations communities including contaminated water, food insecurities, addictions and mental health. His music blends folk, rock, roots and blues and draws inspiration from his northern life, traditional lands and Cree culture. He recorded his debut album, When The Magic Hits, in a recording studio that he built from a shipping container. Precious Diamonds is Sutherlands sophomore album and was released in March 2024. This album features two songs in Omushkegowuk Cree. This is the first time Sutherland wrote and recorded music in his language, making it deeply personal. This album is a testament to his commitment to celebrating his heritage and preserving his language. Like his debut album, this album tells a story that shows a deep-rooted love for his culture. Both his albums have been nominated for JUNO awards.BOOKA Two-Spirt Journey by Ma-Nee Chacaby with Mary Louisa PlummerA Two-Spirt Journey is the powerful autobiography of a lesbian Ojibwa-Cree Elder that is written by Ma-Nee Chacaby with Mary Louisa Plummer, and was recently named the winner of Canada Reads 2025. She wrote the autobiography to share her journey and also to inspire others to share their own life stories.A Two-Spirit Journey details Chacabys life as an Ojibwa-Cree lesbian. Raised in northern Ontario, she learned cultural teachings from her grandmother and bush survival skills from her stepfather. In her book, Chacaby shares how she endured abuse by different adults and in her teens became an alcoholic. After moving to Thunder Bay to escape an abusive marriage in her 20s, Chacaby overcame racism and achieved sobriety. She trained as an alcoholism counsellor, raised her children, fostered many others and eventually came out as a lesbian. She led Thunder Bays first gay pride parade in 2013.Chacabys autobiography highlights her resilience, faith and compassion, offering profound insights into the ongoing challenges faced by Indigenous people. 40l I ssue1 2025C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne'