Artistes

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It’s a long way from the dirt roads of Saddle Lake Cree Nation in central Alberta to the bright lights of Los Angeles, California, but Tia Wood followed her heart from the Rez to the City of Angels to make her musical dreams come true. Her powerful, soulful voice carries the spirit of her peoples’ songs that have echoed from her homelands since time immemorial, and the musical roots of her family tree run deep.

Growing up in a home rich with music and culture, she began singing as soon as she could talk, inspired and nurtured by her parents, siblings, and her dual Plains Cree and Coast Salish heritage. So Tia believes it was inevitable that she’s now blazing her own trail as a solo artist, with her debut recordings being released by Sony Music this spring. “When I was younger, this kind of stuff is something I dreamed about, but just never would say out loud because I never thought it was reachable,” says the 24 year old. “But it’s just so cool. I’m just so grateful.” Tia also calls it “surreal” to go from the western edges of the Canadian Prairies to the west coast metropolis of Los Angeles.

Saddle Lake Cree Nation is a community of about 6000 people in Treaty 6 territory, about a two-hour drive east of the Alberta capital of Edmonton. Her home community is where Tia’s musical journey began; her first experiences on stage were performing with her family, singing traditional music at powwows, schools, community events, and various showcases. Back then, her father, Earl Wood, co-founded and was a member of the legendary JUNO-winning and Grammy-nominated powwow drum group Northern Cree, and her mother, Cynthia Jim, was in an all-women drum group. The talent in her family is generational: her sister, Fawn Wood, is also a JUNO Award-winning singer.

Even though she calls her younger self “the shyest kid” among her other siblings, Tia says those early performances and musical teachings from her family were hugely formative, and led her on to the path she continues to follow today, proudly celebrating and sharing the songs and dances of her people.