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VOICES RISING YOUTH CONCERT

Gathering Of Our People 2025


During GOOP 2025, an event by the name of Voices Rising was co-hosted by Katrine Fletcher and Bella Cheechoo (the person writing this blog!). This was a youth concert that featured young fiddlers, multiple guitarists, singers and a band; all local youth, many of which were self taught musicians. Some had learned from online tutorials, others from family traditions passed down through generations, and a few simply by trial and error. 



I was MC for the event, it was a first for me and I stepped up to the plate. Throughout the concert, I highlighted the shorebird study collaboration between the Moose River Heritage and Hospitality and Nature Canada. Nature Canada also provided the youth honorariums and as such were directly supporting our youth performers.


The diversity of musical backgrounds made the evening especially rich, with each performance carrying its own story of passion, creativity, and personal growth. I was impressed with the braveness of the performers, it takes guts to get up on stage… It's something not everyone can do.


Many of the performers were playing in front of a live audience for the very first time, and the support they received from the enthusiastic crowd helped turn nerves into confidence as the night went on. That kind of reception doesn’t just help a young artist get through a performance, it helps them believe in themselves. It tells them that their work matters, that their voice is heard, and that they have a place in the wider community.



Which is why I believe this event fostered a sense of unity and empowerment among the youth, proving that with a little initiative and a lot of passion, young people can successfully share their art and inspire their communities. It also demonstrated, in the clearest terms, that our Mushkegowuk youth are capable. Given the space and support to step up, they bring new energy, fresh ideas, and a level of passion that can shift the entire mood of an audience.



What stood out most to me, though, was the spirit of community and collaboration. This wasn’t just a concert, this was also a step towards opportunity for the youth involved. It was a demonstration of what can happen when a community chooses to invest in its young people, not just with words, but with real opportunities, an event that I can say brought a lot of joy for me, personally. I enjoyed being a part of this concert, and I’m sure the other performers feel the same way.



The youth are our future leaders. When we give our young people healthy outlets for their creativity, we are actively helping them express their identities, channel their energy in positive ways, and grow into empowered individuals who feel seen, supported, and capable of making a difference. 


Another good outcome from this event: The Moose River Heritage and Hospitality Association, Nature Canada, and Victor Linklater are considering a coffeehouse for youth in the near future. 


This coffeehouse event is in the works and is expected to be set sometime in September/October as another space to showcase art. The main goal of this event would be focused on local youth who are interested in any form of art, whether that be painting, music, poetry, comedy sketches, etc. More news to come on that as we develop and plan for it.


I wanted to thank Victor Linklater, Special Events Coordinator at GOOP 2025 and thanks to the Moose Cree First Nation for providing the tent space for our concert.


Special thank you to The Moose River Heritage and Hospitality Association and Nature Canada, in partnership with Oshichikesiwuk Nanipek who funded and organized this event!


Bella Cheechoo, Summer Student

Community Organizer & Storyteller

Nature Canada / Moose River Heritage and Hospitality Association

 
 
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