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Tia Wood
Concerts
Tia Wood Joins Shawn Mendes In Vancouver to Raise Awareness For Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
The Cree/Salish singer joined the chart-topping hitmaker to perform the song "Youth" at his Rogers Arena show on Oct. 12.
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Shawn Mendes and Tia Wood are sending a message to today’s youth.
At the Canadian singer’s Oct. 12 show in Vancouver at Rogers Arena, the Cree/Salish artist joined Mendes on-stage to sing a rendition of his Khalid-featuring track, “Youth” from Mendes’ 2018 self-titled album. The track peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100.
Before Wood joined him onstage, Mendes detailed his interactions with Indigenous communities around the world and how important they have been to him, calling himself “incredibly lucky and blessed” to have spent time amongst the community.
“My words will fall flat when describing how healing and how beautiful and how much we have to learn from the Indigenous people in this world,” which elicited cheers from the audience. “I think you guys will feel it,” he said before inviting Wood — whom he called “very special,” to the stage.
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@erickrodas84 I can't believe I witnessed this live! @Shawn Mendes brought out Cree-Salish artist @Tia Wood in Vancouver tonight. #CreeSalish #IndigenousArtist #IndigenousRepresentation #IndigenousPride
The emerging artist, who hails from the Saddle Lake Cree Nation on Treaty 6 territory, has been rising in the music industry over the last year. Following her performance at Billboard Canada Women in Music 2024, her track “Sky High” hit new heights on the Billboard Canada airplay charts.
During the performance, Wood added her own verse to Mendes’ song, in honour of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
“Where do I start?/ How do I say it?/ My voice is so tired and I cannot fake it/ Our mothers, daughters, sisters/ Go missing every day/ Hard to feel hopeful/ When hope feels far away,” she sang.
But she wasn’t alone. Wood’s father, Earl, is one of the founders of the internationally acclaimed powwow group Northern Cree. During the performance, he incorporated traditional Indigenous vocals and beats, which meshed well with Mendes’ acoustic guitar.
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The performance took place one day before Indigenous People's Day in the United States (a new recognition that many celebrate instead of the Columbus Day holiday on the same day) and two weeks after Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada.
@kippp21 Shawn brought out Tia Wood tonight in Vancouver #shawnmendes #tiawood #youth #ontheroadagain #vancouver
After the performance, Mendes shared how honoured he was to share a stage with Wood, noting, “This is Canada,” on Instagram.
Wood shared a similar sentiment, dedicating the heartfelt performance to “rez babies everywhere.”
“I spoke my truth and tried to represent the best way I could. Spoke about our missing relatives,” she said on Facebook. “Aiyhiy Shawn for the opportunity.”
The duet was the major moment of the night, as many Indigenous fans took to social media to share their appreciation.
“This is so beautiful! The chills the little native girl in me is crying with happiness and joy! Finally we’re being heard😭😭🫶🏻,” wrote one user on TikTok. “when one of our ppl make it; we all do. 🥲,” said another.
Since embarking on his On the Road Again tour, Mendes has made it a priority to show love to his Canadian roots. During his Toronto show at Budweiser Stage the Pickering, Ontario native shared he was “proud to be Canadian,” calling the country “a beautiful place to be from.”
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Mendes’ speech prior to performing “Youth” has become a mainstay at his shows, where he shares nuggets of wisdom for the crowd.
“We have to change this world. We have to bring more love, acceptance, unity,” he said. “There [are] so many bulls–t things trying to divide us, and honestly, when you’re in an arena or an amphitheatre and you’re all singing like this, those divides are not here,” he said in Toronto.
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