Indigenous artist gaining recognition through country music

Jerry Sereda is a multi-award winning Indigenous Country Singer who was born and raised in Manitoba. He holds a bachelor degree in computer science and a master ’s degree in education from the University of Manitoba. In addition, Sereda has lived in Alberta and Manitoba and has been an educator for 17 years.

+LV JUDQGPRWKHU WDXJKW KLP KLV ¿UVW FRXSOH RI JXLWDU chords so when he started his high school he knew how to play a few chords and sing songs. After his graduation, he started working at a summer job out on the road and stayed in hotels where he played his guitar and sang songs in the evenings.

He also entered contests like Canadian Idol and Nashville Star, but, these contests didn’t work well for him. Then he got involved in an Indigenous program where he was paid along with other participants. It was KLV ¿UVW H[SHULHQFH WR YLVLW D VWXGLR WR UHFRUG DQ RULJLQDO song and witness the whole process.

Sereda said, it was the Indigenous organization who promoted them for a year to bring them onto the stage to play for people all across Manitoba and Canada.

³,W ZDV D UHDOO\ JUHDW H[SHULHQFH DQG WKDW ZDV ZKHQ , NQHZ , ZDV KRRNHG $QG WKH QH[W ELW RI UHFRUGLQJV WKDW , GLG , IRXQG ZD\V WR ¿QG IXQGLQJ WR FRQWLQXH WR JR LQWR the studio and to continue to put my stories into music and work at a professional level. That’s basically where I started and I’ve never really stopped ever since then,” the multi-award Indigenous artist added.

Sereda uses his music to share the stories about himself and the Indigenous community.

6R IDU KH KDV UHOHDVHG IRXU DOEXPV DQG WKH ¿IWK DObum only single song was released on Aug.12, with the full version to be released later this year. The albums are Campground Cowboy (2009), Turn the Country On (2011), Don’t Mind If I Do (2019), Classic Country Couple (2021), and Backroad Therapy (2022).

In 2010, 40 year-old Sereda was awarded Indigenous Music Awards for best new artist giving him hope that he could be in the Canadian Country music scene. He has also won the North American Indigenous Image Award for “Best Music Video,” and three times was nominated for the Manitoba Country Music Awards. As well, he has been recognized by Indigenous Music Awards, Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Awards, and Western Canadian Awards. In June 2021, he won the Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards for Country Album of the Year for the “Don’t Mind If I Do” album. In addition, he is nominated for this year’s Manitoba Country Music Awards for Male Artist of the Year, which will be announced on Nov. 5, 2022.

He added, “It’s been great I’m so appreciative of the people who followed me through my journey, right from the beginning…I think our music is getting stronger and we’re being more consistent with the type of sound that we’re producing,”

“I like to put on live high energy shows for a visual H[SHULHQFH DQG D >VSHFLDO@ PRPHQW IRU WKH SHRSOH ZDWFKing as well. So it’s not just about the music, it’s about being an entertainer. And, I always want people to leave our show saying that was really cool,” Sereda said. “Music has always been therapy to me and, and I feel that that’s that connection of sharing your stories with people.”

“Because I grew up with a family that was always WKHUH IRU PH DQG DOZD\V ¿QGLQJ ZD\V WR KHOS PH ZKHQ , needed the help, I wanted to show that’s how I grew up, with a sense of wanting to help others.

“So I actually applied to the faculty of education… and I chose education because that’s an investment in our future,” Sereda continued.

He said that he is working to develop a course, which will help the Indigenous communities or Indigenous youth who may not have access to the same supports.

“And it’s really a course about the music business, everything from playing music, to writing songs, to producing songs, to marketing your music, publicity, booking a tour, creating music, videos, and content. I have my master’s in curriculum design. So if I can create content, it’s going to be valuable to show youth across Manitoba and maybe all of Canada.

“I know, how to get into the music, business and different aspects of the music business.”

The multi-award winning Country singer advises youth to always follow their dreams and passions and never give up.

“There’s always going to be people that tell you can’t GR LW WKDW LW¶V LPSRVVLEOH %XW , DP D ¿UP EHOLHYHU WKDW LI you want to do something and you have the driving passion, ignore the people who tell you that you can’t do it,” KH DGGHG ³%HFDXVH LI \RX ¿QG WKH ULJKW SHUVRQ WKH\ ZLOO not only tell you that you can do it, but they will help you do it. They will open up those doors and those channels IRU \RX DQG ZRUN ZLWK \RX WR DFKLHYH >\RXU GUHDPV@ ´

All music and videos are free to listen or watch on 6HUHGD¶V RI¿FLDO ZHEVLWH RU VRFLDO PHGLD SDJHV $OVR D form is available on his website if anyone wants to reach out to him. You can follow him on Twitter @JerrySereda, Instagram, @JerrySereda, Facebook and YouTube.

ACROSS

1. Pay attention

5. Not second

10. Tent-pitching place

14. Against

15. A city in Nebraska

16. Follow orders

17. Food dryer

19. Close

20. An uncle

21. Keen

22. Flair

23. Medical needle

25. Coronet

27. Falsehood

28. Union

31. A group on concubines

34. Cool down

35. Director’s cry

36. Genus of gorse

37. Board game

38. Of higher order

39. Diety

40. Levitate

41. Adjust again

42. Coastal region

44. Hurried on foot

45. Tally

46. Laic

50. Complete

52. Rent

54. Sash

55. Greek goddess of discord

56. Belonging to the past

58. Dispatched

59. Not outer

60. Speed competition

61. Clothing

62. Cast out

63. Large northern deer

DOWN

1. Hell

2. Foe

3. Aromatic solvent

4. Do It Yourself

5. Scrounge (for food)

6. Picture

7. Assess

8. A small group of applicants

9. Driveway surface

10. Against

11. Suspensions

12. Lunch or dinner

13. Combustible pile

18. Jeans material

22. Travel on water by wind

24. Holly

26. Misfortunes

28. Coming up

29. Adorable

30. French for “State”

31. Embraces

32. Balm ingredient

33. Editing

34. Chuckling

37. Extended family

38. List of choices +LJKO\ RσHQVLYH

41. Formula 1 driver

43. Brags

44. Holiday destination 6DWLVðHV

47. Neighborhood

48. By surprise

49. Angers

50. Exam

51. Black-and-white cookie

53. Slave

56. Hasten

57. Anger