Logan Staats performed as part of Live Different's visit to the region. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Role Models

Indigenous musician stops at SMVS as part of Live Different tour

Apr 11, 2019 | 12:08 PM

Special guests from Ontario-based Live Different were at Senator Myles Venne School this week spreading their message about youth empowerment.

The organization was in the tri-communities April 8 and 9 as part of their three-week tour in Saskatchewan. Manager of Indigenous Programs Mary Anne Roy said Live Different has presented motivational workshops from B.C. to P.E.I., which was done in La Ronge during their visit. On the second day, residents were invited to a free concert by Logan Staats, an Indigenous singer, songwriter and storyteller from Ontario.

“We started off with a one-hour motivational presentation that included Indigenous youth from across Canada sharing their stories of hope and resiliency,” Roy said. “We also broke off into separate groups with each grade to do sharing circle sessions and activities.”

When sharing circles are held, Roy noted it’s not uncommon for those participating to open up to a group of people for the first time. She added after the programming is finished, they’ve also had youth approach the group later and talk about how Live Different impacted their lives. Christian Tagoona, a hip-hop rapper from Nunavut, was also involved in the visit at Senator.

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The concert by Staats was a special feature as he only performs at a couple of Live Different’s stops across Western Canada. He’s an award-winning artist known for folk music. Staats stated the concert had more of an intimate atmosphere as he often performs with a full-band and not solo.

“I find in those settings I can make a deeper connection with the audience sometimes,” he said. “My overall message, especially for the youngsters listening, is to believe in yourself and follow your heart at any cost. That’s something I’ve done in my music and it’s a teaching I want to support.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno