Where were you at in your music career when you had your first child? Was there much discussion about how that life choice would affect your career within the music/entertainment industry?

I was still writing music and learning to play the guitar, I’m self-taught. I had a paper audience taped to my wall and I sang to that every night. When my son was born, I sang to him. Not in public yet.

As a working parent in the music industry, what are some of the biggest challenges you face or have faced?

I was a single parent of two children while my career grew, I was also a student in education and then care-aide, I worked as a care-aide while singing, and as a single parent! I guess the most challenging part was having two small children to take care of while learning the ropes of the music industry.

Also being Indigenous and a woman was and still produces challenges in itself. As an indigenous woman who was part of the Sixties Scoop I didn’t have family to turn to. A lot of times my children came with me to gigs. Also dealing with mental health issues due to generational trauma and genocide was very challenging to overcome and still is.

What is one change (big or small) within the industry that could make a positive impact for working parents?

A basic living allowance and guided help. It was word of mouth that I found out about all the business part of the industry.

How do you find support and community with other working parents in or out of the music industry?

I now work with Eliza Doyle within the Community Arts Mentorship Program as a program director and music teacher. They support me while I get to pass on my music knowledge that I’ve accumulated over the years, especially to indigenous youth, which is amazing. It also lifts me out of poverty.

What’s one specific example of an organization/venue/company doing something great to help support working parents?

Well, I’d say Communty Arts Mentorship Program because they support both a career within the company but also my music career. I love that non-profit.

What could a music event (festival, conference, etc.), do or provide to make it easier for you to participate?

Travel, accommodation paid for is always helpful. Someone to help fill out grants, networking opportunities where I could bring my daughter. She’s 15 and my son is 19 now.

Can you shout out another music mama doing great things?

Shout out to Hip Hop artist Julia Gonzales, country star and award winning Teagan Littlechief, another Hip Hop artist Lisa Muswagon from The Resilience and beautiful opera, singer and international star Rhonda Head! There’s so many wonderful amazing rock star mamas out there!