Sask. Indigenous artist uses music to express identity, inspire youth

Image shows Saskatchewan-born Indigenous singer-songwriter Ger Carriere (CTV News/Stacey Hein)

For Saskatchewan-born Indigenous singer-songwriter Ger Carriere, music is deeply tied to her culture and identity, and she hopes to help others discover their own.

Carriere has been singing for as long as she can remember.

“Music has always been something that was a part of me,” she said in an interview. “My dad says that I actually sang before I talked.”

Her love of storytelling and poetry naturally evolved into songwriting.

“I think as an Indigenous person, it’s really embedded in who you are. It’s a language and it’s a way of communicating,” she said. “So, becoming a performer and a singer was just me stepping into who I was always meant to.”

Her sound blends pop, rock, folk and EDM.

Carriere released her self-titled EP in 2020 and began rolling out singles from her follow-up, Be Hotter, ahead of its Nov. 4 release.

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Her breakout track, Can I Be Her, climbed to No. 1 on SiriusXM’s Indigenous Music Countdown in January.

After years of Indigenous voices being silenced, Carriere said it is important to see Indigenous representation.

“We weren’t able to practice our language, our cultures, and so it’s vital for us to see ourselves represented in all industries and to have people who look like us,” she said.

Beyond music, Carriere is also a public speaker and author, with a focus on inspiring Indigenous youth.

Originally from Cumberland House, she said opportunities were limited in remote communities, something she hopes to change by showing what’s possible.

“It’s more important to me now to show those kids that you can come from those places. You can have a lack of resources, of support, but as long as you believe in yourself and you are determined,” she said. “It’s going to happen. It’s just a matter of time.”

While she dreams of performing on stadium stages and at venues like Madison Square Garden, Carriere said her goal is also to open doors for the next generation.