Art Napoleon

Art Napoleon launched his prolific music career with the release of his debut album, Outta the Woods, in 1995. He then co-hosted ‘The Dead Dog Café Comedy Hour’ on radio from 1997 to 2000. Demonstrating an early commitment to language revitalization, he hosted ‘Cree for Kids’ and co-hosted ‘The New Canoe’ in 2002. Napoleon’s album Miyôskamin in 2006 garnered airplay on CBC and secured two Aboriginal People’s Choice Awards.

His 2008 album, Mocikan: Songs for Learning Cree, earned a Western Canadian Music Award nomination, and Siskabush Tales, released the same year, won ‘best country album’ and ‘best folk/acoustic album’ at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards. Expanding into television, Napoleon took on the ‘Dad’ role in the children’s series ‘Tiga Talk!’ from 2008 to 2011, which aimed to improve language skills in Aboriginal languages. His album Creeland Covers followed in 2010. Concurrently, he co-hosted ‘Down2Earth’ from 2010 to 2013, diversifying his media portfolio.

Napoleon translated each episode into Cree, emphasizing conservationism, food security, and sustainability. A staunch advocate, he was a leading figure in the 2016 protests against the Site C dam, championing Treaty 8 rights and organizing the Rocky Mountain Fort protest camp. Art Napoleon’s recent work includes a voice role in the upcoming animated project ‘Inkwo for When the Starving Return’ in 2024. Through his extensive career as a celebrated TV host, award-winning musician, and dedicated advocate, Napoleon consistently champions the preservation and promotion of Indigenous traditions and languages, showcasing his multifaceted appeal as a highly marketable talent.