Crystal Hillman

indescribable. Feeling honoured and accomplished, she’s proved to herself that she is progressing as a live performer, and growing as an artist and person.

This year, Crystal Hillman, a talented female Indigenous singer, won the NCI FM Jam Talent Contest. Hillman, who hails from Sandy Bay First Nation, about 200 km northwest of Winnipeg, grew up in a French Métis community called St. Francois Xavier. She now lives in Selkirk, Manitoba, with her husband and has been there for 14 years.

Hillman is deeply honoured to have been included in the talent lineup at NCI Jam and hopes to continue making her family and people proud. She also hopes to inspire other youth to follow their dreams and always challenge themselves for future growth.

The entire experience at NCI Jam was everything Hillman had imagined it to be, and the rush she felt on stage was

Hillman loves being on stage and the feeling she gets when she successfully captivates the audience. A song can make people feel happy and uplifted, or remind them to remain strong. Hillman channels her emotions and expresses herself through music. She wants the crowd to feel every note and word she sings, and when the crowd is silent, it’s just her and the song. Winning first place at the NCI FM Jam Talent Showcase has left Hillman sitting on cloud nine, and she wishes she could relive that feeling one more day.

Hillman has been fortunate to learn from powerhouse musician Tracy Bone and is grateful for her kind words and useful advice. Hillman can relate to Bone’s style, which is bluesy and country-rock, and loves how Bone closes her eyes to feel the emotional and/or important parts of the song and then bursts with energy when necessary. Bone’s voice hits the back of the room, and that is what Hillman aims to do as well.

Hillman recently performed at the Manito Ahbee Festival in Winnipeg, and she is excited about being able to perform live throughout the summer. She is deeply grateful for the opportunity to share her music with the world and hopes to inspire other youth to follow their dreams.

Rebecca Chartrand, the CEO of Indigenous Strategy Alliance, is an Anishinaabe First Nations woman from Treaty 4 territory in Manitoba with over 25 years of experience in K-12 and postsecondary education, including the arts. She has a strong sense of pride in her identity and is highly respected for her courage, integrity, voice and vision. Chartrand’s work focuses on bridging diverse communities through reconciliation, anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and Indigenous and multicultural education frameworks. She leverages Indigenous ways of teaching, learning and leading to bring a holistic perspective to her leadership style and purpose-driven initiatives.