Aboriginal Hip Hop Artist to Visit Westmount
Grade 8 students will have a very talented visitor and role model visit their music class on Tuesday, April 5. Shibastik, Cree for “underground flow,” is an accomplished painter, lyricist, and hip hop artist. He’s a member of the Moose Cree First Nation from Moosonee. He will visit the students to speak about the importance of music and the arts in his life and career. In addition to his music and arts life, he is also and Intensive Rehabilitation in Custody Supervision Worker in a detention centre.
“Shibastik, Cree for “underground flow,” is an accomplished painter, lyricist, and hip hop artist. Inspired by life as a Cree hunter on the James Bay Lowlands, his music and art promote awareness and appreciation for both the land and First Nation culture.
At the forefront of Canada’s Native hip hop movement, Shibastik began producing music independently in 1998. Then in 2002, he landed a spot on a tv series called First Music and Arts, making him one of the first Native hip hop artists to appear on national television. Since then, he has toured across Canada and the US and has developed a huge fan base. He has a diverse performance history, ranging from pow wows in northern Ontario to nightclubs in Chicago.
It was while working at the youth detention center that Shibastik developed his ‘Healing Through Hip Hop’ workshop. He has since presented his workshop at conferences, in schools (elementary, secondary and post-secondary), and at various events nationwide.”
Source: https://www.reverbnation.com/shibastik