'Break a barrier': Indigenous artist to sing part of O Canada in Cree at Grey Cup
When Teagan Littlechief sings in front of thousands of fans at Sunday's Grey Cup game, she'll be thinking about Canada's Indigenous youth.
Littlechief, who is from White Bear First Nation on Treaty 4 territory in southeastern Saskatchewan, says she was often the only Indigenous person on stage when she first started performing.
"My thing is being able to show society that First Nations people are just as talented as any other race. I've always wanted our First Nations people out there to flaunt what we've got and show society what we have to offer," the 35-year-old said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
"I hope that what I'm able to do is maybe break a barrier down for our youth."
Littlechief is to perform O Canada in three languages -- English, French and Cree -- at the Canadian Football League's championship game in Regina between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts.
Only fluent in English, Littlechief has been leaning on a Cree teacher and French friend to help her practice the national anthem in the other languages.
"My Cree teacher today was giving me the lowdown of pronunciations and what would sound better with what words."
Littlechief said she believes she may be the first to sing the anthem at a Grey Cup in Cree. Juno award winner Susan Aglukark, who blends Inuit folk music traditions with country songwriting, sang the anthem for the 1998 Grey Cup in Winnipeg.
"We're always trying to bring recognition in everything that we do now, and I'm over the moon. I'm happy that people are starting to recognize First Nations," said Littlechief.
Littlechief, who also works as an addictions counsellor and youth worker, has her own singing accolades to brag about.
She was named the Indigenous Artist of the Year at the 2022 Saskatchewan Country Music Awards. She took home the title of Saskatchewan's Next Big Thing from the Pure Country radio station in Regina and performed at this year's Country Thunder Music Festival.
She has also performed O Canada at games for the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Western Hockey League's Regina Pats.
Littlechief said has been in love with music since she was a child, when her brother would put headphones on her and she'd dance herself to sleep, but said the road to success hasn't been easy.
She has struggled with alcohol addiction since high school, she said, and dabbled with heavy drugs.
"I always dreamt that when I had my first child ... I'd raise them in a substance-abuse-free home, and that's not the life that he got," Littlechief said of her 11-year-old son, Gabriel.
"The first two years of his life he was having to deal with an alcoholic mom, who ditched him all the time."
Littlechief said she went on her last bender in 2017. At the time, the boy was sick at home and without his mom.
"That day, I decided that was it. It was probably the hardest, hardest adventure -- I'm going to call it an adventure -- because I missed out on so much of my son's life, and now I'm slowly able to make up for it."
Her singing has taken off since she's been sober. But most importantly, she said, it has brought her and her son closer together.
They often go on road trips together for her shows, she said, and he's been her main support, along with her mother and stepfather.
"[Gabriel] is super excited. He's always saying my mom's singing the anthem and he says, 'Mom, the kids at school know me." Littlechief said of her upcoming Grey Cup performance.
"I've been practising, practising, practising. My son is actually getting tired of me singing it all the time. He's like, 'Mom the anthem is stuck in my head now."'
While she's feeling some nerves, Littlechief said she reminds herself of why she's taking the stage on Sunday.
"I just want to be able to show the youth I work with that dreams are possible when you work hard and you put in effort in on all the things you want to do.
"And change happens. Beautiful things happen."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Donald Trump was the subject of 'an assassination attempt,' FBI reports
The FBI said Donald Trump was the target of “what appears to be an attempted assassination” at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sunday.
LIVE UPDATES 2024 Emmy Awards: 'The Bear,' 'Fargo' and 'Hacks' win acting awards
'Shogun,' 'The Bear' and 'Baby Reindeer' at the topo of the queue as the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards arrive on Sunday.
B.C. to open 'highly secure' involuntary care facilities
B.C. will be opening “highly secure facilities” for people with addiction and mental health issues in the province, officials said Sunday.
Calgary police honour 3 Calgarians who helped save Lanny McDonald’s life in airport incident
The Calgary police paid tribute to a trio of Calgarians who saved the life of Lanny McDonald at the airport in February, 2024.
They came from Jamaica for work, now they're homeless and out thousands of dollars in lost wages
Abuse of Canada’s temporary foreign worker program has left a group of carpenters from Jamaica 'destitute' after an Ottawa company refused to pay them for nearly half a year of work.
Montreal bars, restaurants react to Quebec bill to regulate merchant tipping requests
Quebec tabled a bill on Thursday that would regulate how merchants determine suggested tips, forcing businesses to calculate them based on the price before tax. Restaurant staff and management are divided on the policy.
Greater Sudbury resident dies in 5-vehicle crash involving 3 motorcycles near Port Dover
A person from Greater Sudbury died and two other individuals were transported to hospital after a five-vehicle crash near Port Dover, Ont., late Saturday afternoon.
Queen Victoria's favourite Tuscan villa for sale for more than US$55 million
Once a favoured holiday destination for Queen Victoria, and reputedly described in one of the greatest works of Italian literature, the Villa Palmieri is steeped in history and could now be yours – if you have more than €50 million (US$55 million) lying around.
Liberals will let Conservatives hold non-confidence vote 'fairly soon', no intention of proroguing Parliament
The Liberals have no intention of using procedural tactics to delay the Conservatives' promised non-confidence motion, and they have no plans to prorogue Parliament to hold onto power, according to Government House Leader Karina Gould.