Sherryl Sewepagaham spoke with former student Kairyn Potts, aka @OhKairyn, on TikTok live about the breadth and dynamism of Indigenous music, and its place in the music classroom.

Music educator Sherryl Sewepagaham and Twitch streamer, actor, model, and media personality Kairyn Potts (aka @OhKairyn) sat down to chat about the MusiCounts Learn resource Kanata: Contemporary Indigenous Artists and Their Music. Tune into this warm and charming conversation between former student and teacher to hear about the importance of music in Indigenous life, the place Indigenous music can take in the music classroom, and how music can help preserve and celebrate cultures.

This conversation was presented by APTN, who have generously supported 15 schools across Canada through the MusiCounts Band Aid Program. Over the course of 7 years, APTN has contributed $75,000 for schools to purchase musical instruments, equipment, and resources, including Prince Charles Elementary School in Edmonton, AB, where Sherryl taught students - including Kairyn!

SHERRYL SEWEPAGAHAM

Sherryl Sewepagaham is Cree-Dene from the Little Red River Cree Nation and is currently a music therapist at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton. She has been a district consultant and a K-6 elementary music educator for over two decades integrating First Nations content. Sherryl co-founded the 2006 JUNO-nominated Indigenous women’s trio, Asani and composes and arranges traditional-based, original songs and choral repertoire for children, youth and adult choirs in the Cree language. She continues to create Indigenous teacher resources, including for the National Arts Centre’s Music Alive Program.

KAIRYN POTTS

Kairyn (Kai) Potts (he/him) is proudly Nakota Sioux from Treaty 6 Territory, from Paul First Nation, and the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation. He is a proud Two-Spirit person and currently sits as the National Youth Board Representative for the 2 Spirits in Motion Society. As a former Indigenous Youth Suicide Prevention Team representative, he is a passionate youth advocate who works to improve indigenous youth's lives, particularly interested in queer youth and youth in the child and family services system.

Kai now makes his home in beautiful Tkaronto where he works as a writer, actor, model, TV host, and continues his youth advocacy through content creation and frontline workshops and community events. He is the host for Snapchat’s Canada’s First Original Series “Reclaimed” and has appeared in the APTN Series “7th GEN.”

Kai co-founded the Indigenous gaming organization Neechi Clan in 2022. Kai is an avid gamer and streamer on Twitch and Tiktok who aims to create representation and opportunities for Indigenous youth in the gaming/content creation world. His creative projects allow him to utilize online platforms to share his culture, makeup and fashion, his passions like gaming and acting, and some laughs with others.

Interesting Facts: Kai speaks 5 languages! (English, Cree, Stoney (Iithga), Chinese (intermediate Mandarin), and Spanish).

Website // Instagram // TikTok