Indigenous musicians remember Cris Derksen’s kindness, authenticity and courage

Tributes to the late Cris Derksen, a Cree two-spirit cellist and composer from northern Alberta who passed away in a car accident on May 15, have poured in, honouring their achievements and the impact she left on the world.

“I found her to be such a good, kind and generous friend,” said NWT musician Leela Gilday, who said she met Derksen in Vancouver more than 20 years ago.

“It was a really heavy time in Vancouver to be a young Indigenous artist when I was living there.”

Gilday said Derksen’s work in the classical music industry “bent the genre” and “highlighted a very particular Indigenous voice.”

Derksen was one of the founding members of the Indigenous Classical Gathering at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

Melody McKiver, an Anishinaabe violist and composer based in Winnipeg, said Indigenous musicians and composers in classical music circles saw Derksen as “our North Star.”

In a statement provided to Cabin Radio, McKiver said it was Derksen who noticed their work “before I could even see myself as a solo performer or violist, and kept track at every step of the way over our last 15 years of friendship.”

‘Tireless advocacy and boundless encouragement’

Gilday said Derksen was a mentor to many Indigenous musicians.

“Cris stepped into these spaces and brought her unique brand of playing, her own unique creative voice and she always used it to lift other people up,” she said.

“Cris steadfastly modelled at every step of the way that the best way to elevate our artistry and Indigenous nations is to lift everyone up and build together,” said McKiver.

“So many artists owe much of their careers and communities to Cris’ tireless advocacy and boundless encouragement.”

Derksen released four albums, and composed many orchestral, chamber music, choral and ballet pieces, alongside scores for films and television. They were also one of the first musicians to play on the Cabin Stage at Folk on The Rocks in 2018.

In the days and weeks after Derksen passed, tributes poured out on Facebook from those close to them, musicians, music organizations and politicians.

“Where do I start? We were so young. Baby musicians. You’ve been part of my life for so long,” Tanya Tagaq posted to Facebook. “You danced so hard you broke your foot, twice. I miss you already. All our crazy adventures. The music. You helped me when my daughter was injured. I wish you were here still. I love you Cris.”

Derksen’s website states their “unique sound began to take shape in 2006 when she started performing with Tagaq, using multi-effect guitar pedals to make the cello more relatable and innovative.”

A ‘really authentic artistic voice’

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew also shared a statement about Derksen’s passing on Facebook.

“I am very sad to hear the news about Cris Derksen,” he wrote.

“She was a wonderful person and extraordinary talent. She scored the TV series 8th Fire, which was instrumental in my broadcasting career, and I felt increasingly invested in her work ever since. She will be missed. My sincere condolences to her family and friends.”

Gilday said the amount of tributes to Derksen since their passing shows how much she “reverberated” through not just the Indigenous music community, but the world.

“The main things that Cris brought to the world were this really authentic artistic voice through her music and storytelling, and then her kindness and generosity that permeated everything that she did and everything that she was,” said Gilday.

“So many of us had Cris believing in us before we could even believe in ourselves,” said McKiver.

Jasmine Nasogaluak contributed reporting.