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Ashley Osborn
Tia Wood
Chart Beat
Celebrating Indigenous Artists Who Have Landed on the Billboard Canada Charts in 2026
From Aysanabee to Tia Wood to Ruby Waters, we’re spotlighting exceptional Indigenous acts in commemoration of the fifth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
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Today marks five years since National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was recognized by the federal government as a day to honour Canadian residential school survivors, their families and local communities.
Since its acknowledgement, there has been a country-wide embracing of Indigenous people and culture, including music. Over the year, multiple Indigenous artists have made a mark on the Billboard Canada charts, a measure of popularity and music consumption across the country.
In honour of the holiday, we are spotlighting some of them today, from Oji-Cree singer-songwriter Aysanabee and Mohawk country singer Shawnee Kish to Cree and Salish pop singer Tia Wood.
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Aysanabee
For the better part of the decade, Oji-Cree singer-songwriter Aysanabee has gone from rising act to Canadian music industry fixture. He has made waves on the Billboard Canada Airplay charts, scoring multiple placements with 2025’s “Home.” This year, hit “Gone Baby Gone" debuted at No. 30 on the Modern Rock Airplay chart, dated Jan. 31. Aysanabee won two major awards at the 2024 Juno Awards and two more at this year's, including alternative album of the year, for Edge Of The Earth, and contemporary Indigenous artist or group of the year. In his speech for the latter category, Aysanabee said he promised himself if he won this category he would not submit again to make space for other artists. "So maybe you won’t see me again for a minute," he said. "But I will still be coming for the white people awards," he said to laughter and applause.
Tia Wood
Cree-Salish singer Tia Wood exudes a star power that caught everyone’s attention at the inaugural Billboard Canada Women in Music in 2024 and continues her rise. With only a couple of EPs to her name, Wood has already amassed a massive following on social media and multiple Airplay Chart hits — including her track “Sage My Soul,” which arrived at No. 29 on the AC Airplay chart, dated April 18. Blending soulful R&B and pop hooks, the singer has been widely regarded, sharing the stage with Shawn Mendes, earning Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and Juno nominations and performing at major music festivals like Osheaga. “We’re at such an exciting time when it comes to Indigenous representation and it’s so important that we uplift each other,” she told Billboard Canada backstage at the Montreal music festival.
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Chevy Beaulieu
It’s only been one year since “If We Want To,” Chevy Beaulieu’s debut single, arrived on the Canada Country Airplay chart and reached No. 27. The rising Métis and First Nations act returned to the charts this past April with “She'll Come Back Around,” which debuted at No. 59 on Country, dated April 11. Hailing from Steen River, Alberta, Beaulieu grew up around music, with his father — a three-time Canadian Fiddle Champion — and his mother, a devoted Merle Haggard fan. In the summer, Beaulieu released his self-titled debut album via Vancouver record label 604 Records. The project blends traditional country storytelling with sharp hooks and a rough-around-the-edges honesty — something he has begun to build his career on.
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Shawnee Kish
In the early years of Shawnee Kish’s career, the two-spirit Mohawk singer-songwriter got her start covering Shania Twain songs. Now, Kish, who was born in Welland, Ontario, but is now based in Edmonton, has earned her debut entry on the Airplay charts. But Kish’s soul and talent haven’t gone unnoticed, receiving multiple Juno nominations. After a musical pivot to country music last year, Kish arrived at No. 52 on the Sept. 12-dated Canada Country chart with “Ride at Dawn,” an earnest track that exudes an unshakeable confidence. “Getting radio love as an independent female artist is no small feat,” she wrote on social media.
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Ruby Waters
Hailing from Ontario, Ruby Waters, who is Slovak and Métis, has made quite the name for herself. The rock act has amassed over 50 million streams and toured internationally – and she has done it as an independent artist. This year alone, she notched two different entries on the Airplay charts. On the Feb. 28-dated Modern Rock Airplay chart, she debuted at No. 38 with “Blinders,” and months later, her single “Get a Grip” arrived on the Sept. 12-dated chart at No. 27. Most recently, she performed with City and Colour at this year’s Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony to celebrate honourees The Tragically Hip with their collaborative World Cup cover “Ahead by a Century.” As she appears to be gearing up for a new full-length project, it’ll be no surprise if Waters continues to rise on the charts.
Teigen Gayse
Breakout Métis country act Teigen Gayse has grown a social media following that has translated to the charts. With over 10 million total streams and 48 million TikTok views, at the beginning of the year, the B.C. artist hit No. 51 with her tongue-in-cheek anthem, “The Best Part,” on the Canada Country chart, dated Jan. 24. Throughout Gayse’s rising career, she has worked with some of the country’s biggest acts, like Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger, who produced and co-wrote Gayse’s single “If You Show Me Yours,” which has surpassed three million streams. Her magnetic energy is felt on the stage too, performing at the biggest Canadian country music festivals, including Boots & Hearts, LASSO and the Calgary Stampede.
Kanen
In March, Innu singer-songwriter Kanen, born Karen Pinette-Fontaine, re-emerged with "F**k That S—t" on the CHR/Top 40 Airplay chart after it briefly debuted there last December. The bluntly titled track is originally from 2022 and a deep cut from Kanen's debut album, Mitshuap. The song seemingly gained traction the old-fashioned way, without a viral social media moment — further proving its longevity on the radio. The album served as a major moment for the Quebec artist at the 2023 Félix Awards, where she took home Indigenous artist of the year and discovery of the year, the latter making Kanen the first-ever Indigenous artist to receive the accolade. She has yet to release any music this year — her latest song is a collaboration with neo-folk singer Héron, from last May — but her earnest sound is still making waves.
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Published by ARTSHOUSE MEDIA GROUP (AMG) under license from Billboard Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Media Corporation.
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