Saskatchewan-based, First Nation and Métis singer/songwriter Berk Jodoin has released his new albu, Fly Away, giving us a glimpse into the challenges he has overcome over the course of his life. He also reflects on “how others in similar circumstances are struggling to survive in urban centres across North America.”

Working with co-Producer/multi-instrumentalist Aspen Beveridge at Skull Creek Studios in Saskatchewan, Jodoin brought in his children to make significant musical contributions, along with members of his local Indigenous community.

In late 2023, Jodoin received three nominations at the inaugural Saskatchewan Indigenous Music Awards in the categories Country/Roots Artist of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, and Fan’s Choice.

After a promising hockey career was derailed by life-threatening alcoholism, Jodoin turned his life around in his early thirties with the help of a British Columbia treatment centre. He then took up boxing, but after realizing that injuries were tempting him to return to his bad habits, Jodoin turned to music as his therapy.

Through his friends’ encouragement, Jodoin began recording his songs, and with the support of an SK Arts grant, released his self-titled debut album in 2020. Jodoin followed that up in 2022 with Half-Breed, which earned him a Saskatchewan Music Award as Indigenous Artist of the Year, along with a 2023 Canadian Folk Music Award nomination for Indigenous Songwriter of the Year.

Now partnered with Toronto-based Meriläinen Müsic (Nadjiwan, JC Campbell, Kelly Fraser) Jodoin presents “cold facts alongside a pathway toward change.”

He says:

All my songs are true. I basically just take stories and write them, as I did with songs I wrote for my grandfather, who was a Cree man. The story of him surviving residential schools is a true story that needs to be told. We all have a platform. I use mine to raise awareness of things, which will hopefully inspire people to take action.