Aqua the singer, songwriter, storyteller, artist, and activist is a strong Anishinaabe Kwe~Indigenous Woman, also known as Nibii Waawaaskone~Water Flower. She leads hand drum circles for children, youth, and women in all parts of the city, sharing her healing medicine music with schools, community centres, shelters, harm-reduction programs, libraries, corporations and non-profit organizations. Aqua is a leader in our Indigenous community; teaching women and children to create their own hand drums, leading hand drum birthing ceremonies, talking and healing circles, and is devoted to sharing her teachings passed on to her by her mom and Elders who she’s had the privilege to work under as an Oshkaabewis~Helper.
Photo credit DandyNDN
She originates from North Bay where she was raised by her single Mom Waabishkaasin Kwe~White Stone Woman. Aqua is of mixed Ancestry; Ojibwe Métis with French and Scottish heritage.
Aqua has created a life filled with her love of creation. She is a hand drummer and hand drum maker and has shared her joy for drumming with the community in circles all over the country. During her tour of western Canada visiting many remote reserve communities and sharing her passion for storytelling, Aqua began writing her own stories and turned them into songs with the help of her hand drum. She then self-produced and released her EP Spirit Music with four tracks to honour the four directions and all aspects of creation encompassed on the medicine wheel. Soon she was signed to Tribal Spirit Music where she co-produced her album Hand Drum Stories with thirteen tracks to honour the thirteen grandmother moons.
Aqua is committed to sharing Indigenous stories through theatre and is grateful to have had the opportunity to study Theatre Arts at Algonquin and Film at Humber where she received the Board of Governors Award for her dedication to her community and the performing arts. She understands the importance of gathering as a community to share stories and has learned that a beautiful way to bring people together is through live performance. Aqua co-created and collaborated with Cow Over The Moon and other gifted Indigenous artists on a children’s theatre piece to share the creation story of Turtle Island~North America. She composed original music to score the teachings and bring to life our traditions as Indigenous People.
Aqua is currently working on her next album while collaborating with other like-minded artists who want to share their story, their struggle, their truth. She is an advocate for anyone who has endured violence and adversity. She provides a safe space in her sacred circles so the community can grow together, stronger, forever as a whole.
Aqua Nibii Waawaaskone
~www.aquamusic.ca~