How Indigenous-owned record labels are carving out a better path for traditional music and artists – The Globe and Mail
April 10, 2025
When Ted Whitecalf started Saskatoon-based Sweet Grass Records, it was 1993, and CDs had only recently become more popular than cassette tapes.
Whitecalf, who is Cree from Sweetgrass First Nation, grew up listening to and appreciating traditional Indigenous music, but it was difficult to find in any format. He wanted to give the genre the high-quality production and recordings it deserved, accompanied by packaging and promotion.
“Our people are singers, we are all musicians,” he says.
