OKIMAW ᐅᑭᒪᐤ is the roots-rock music project ofnêhiyaw/Plains Cree multi-instrumentalist and producer Aren Okemaysim. Originally from Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation in Treaty 6 territory, he now calls Regina, Saskatchewan home, which is located in Treaty 4 territory. 

In 2020, Aren produced an unpublished10-song demo of original music in his family’s garage over the span of 2 weeks, all of which he performed, recorded, and engineered himself. Over the next year and a half, he sought the help of engineer Orion Paradis at SoulSound Studio in Regina, SK who helped him produce what would eventually become OKIMAW ᐅᑭᒪᐤ by taking 7 of those songs from the demo and hiring a group of Saskatchewan musicians to re-record each part. 

His debut album focuses on topics such as race relations in Saskatchewan, residential schools, MMIWG, his love/hate relationship with the land, long-distance relationships, and of course –love. OKIMAW ᐅᑭᒪᐤ released on January 21st, 2022, to all major streaming platforms and has been gaining some traction on community radio stations across Canada as well as CBC Saskatchewan. 

Aren will be taking a stripped-down version of this project on the road as a solo acoustic act over the course of 2022/2023.Future updates and show announcements can be found online through social media outlets and the project’s website, okimawmusic.ca 

-kinanâskomitin