- Story by David Wylie Photography by Suzanne Le Stage Photography

Kelly Derrickson received her first acoustic guitar from her grandfather.

When her Okanagan house was destroyed in an arson fire about 10 years ago, the guitar was one of the only things that remained unscathed. It became a symbol of inspiration after Kelly plucked it from the ashes.

91裸聊视频淚t was a sign for me,91裸聊视频� said Kelly, who91裸聊视频檚 from Westbank First Nation.

From the age of four, her heart was filled with music. Educated at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, Kelly studied opera along with other styles of music during her childhood. She gravitated toward musical theatre. And during her teens, she even snuck out to play music.

91裸聊视频淚 was in so many bands that I shouldn91裸聊视频檛 have been in, playing with older guys in clubs with my uniform in my backpack, sneaking out of windows. That91裸聊视频檚 all I ever wanted,91裸聊视频� she said.

In another life, Kelly could have been a lawyer, which had been her father91裸聊视频檚 dream. A force unto himself, Kelly91裸聊视频檚 dad is Grand Chief Ron Derrickson, a self-educated entrepreneur who led the Westbank First Nation for years.

Kelly felt the responsibility to fulfill her family91裸聊视频檚 vision of her future. She had a fellowship to the University of B.C. and even completed an internship in a law office.

Yet, music pulled at her heartstrings. She applied to the prestigious Berklee College of Music for Music Business and Performing Arts, and was accepted and granted a scholarship.

Her family was not initially supportive of that direction. She invited her dad to her first performance at Berklee and made him a deal: if he didn91裸聊视频檛 like her performance, she would go to law school. But if he liked it, he would give her his blessing to stay in music school.

The performance was a hit.

Since then she91裸聊视频檚 released two full albums and three singles, and has started the writing phase for her third album. Kelly91裸聊视频檚 music has been played on more than 1,200 radio stations in North America. She91裸聊视频檚 been recognized consistently at the Native American Music Awards across various categories, winning best female artist for two consecutive years (2017 and 2018). She won the 2015 Coachella Valley Music Award for best country artist, and her single 91裸聊视频�40,000 Ft. Over You91裸聊视频� is considered the Best of 2016 in North America on the National Aboriginal Music Countdown.

She was recently nominated for two 2019 Native American Music Awards: for best indie single and best music video narrative for her latest song release, 91裸聊视频淲e Are Love.91裸聊视频�

Her style has been uniquely described as 91裸聊视频渃ountry tribal rock.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淎 lot of my music has a message,91裸聊视频� said Kelly. 91裸聊视频淭he lyrics may be self-explanatory to me or to the next person, whereas the lyrics might feel like something different to you or to somebody else.91裸聊视频�

Her songs are often an honest perspective on the challenges facing Indigenous communities.

91裸聊视频淪uicide Song91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� from her second album, I Am 91裸聊视频� is a look at the crisis facing First Nations young people and was co-written with her dad.

91裸聊视频淢y dad was in residential schools and he was the one who really wanted me to write this song,91裸聊视频� she said.

It was the last song she was set to record for her album I Am. But Kelly said she was exhausted and wanted to wait until her next album to record it. However, her dad encouraged her to dig deep and find the energy, explaining that as a kid he91裸聊视频檇 had thoughts of suicide.

91裸聊视频淢y dad being one of the strongest personalities that I know, I couldn91裸聊视频檛 believe that. It completely broke me and gave me the energy and the power to write the song the way it should be,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淟ook at how many kids there are out there 91裸聊视频� and it91裸聊视频檚 not just our native population 91裸聊视频� there is so much bullying and stuff going on in schools. I think that every little kid needs a chance. I really wanted to create hope. If I save one life then I91裸聊视频檓 doing what I set out to do,91裸聊视频� she said.

Kelly said Indigenous people face constant criticism because of the colour of their skin.

91裸聊视频淵ou91裸聊视频檙e told you91裸聊视频檙e not good enough and you never will be. What the hell is the point then? Why live?91裸聊视频� she said, adding 91裸聊视频淪uicide Song91裸聊视频� communicates that everyone has a unique purpose and gift.

The video for 91裸聊视频淪uicide Song91裸聊视频� has been re-released as a cross between a music video and a mini-doc. It91裸聊视频檚 one of seven videos she91裸聊视频檚 releasing.

Kelly wants to accomplish through music what her father has achieved through leadership and politics.

Her song 91裸聊视频淚dle No More91裸聊视频� is a social commentary about the First Nations91裸聊视频� rights movement that caught the world91裸聊视频檚 eye in 2012.

Kelly91裸聊视频檚 latest single, 91裸聊视频淲e Are Love,91裸聊视频� is a rock anthem celebrating the feminine and honouring White Buffalo Calf, a female First Nations deity responsible for teachings such as the Medicine Wheel, Four Colours and smudging.

91裸聊视频淚 really suffer for the human condition and I have eternal heartbreak,91裸聊视频� said Kelly. 91裸聊视频淢y heart breaks for animals and how we are interacting with and raping the Earth. It really affects me deeply. I91裸聊视频檓 trying to balance that with my everyday life and throw that all into my music in one thing but have a great message to give everyone where we can figure out how to deal with that in a positive fashion and through love. I think love is the answer to do all that.91裸聊视频�

Kelly now travels between her home in Palm Desert, Calif. and her home in the Okanagan.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e lived out of a suitcase my whole life. This is the first time I91裸聊视频檝e wanted to stay in one place,91裸聊视频� she said about Palm Desert. 91裸聊视频淜elowna91裸聊视频檚 my roots. I always come back there and I91裸聊视频檝e always kept a home there.91裸聊视频�

She91裸聊视频檒l be performing at the Native American Music Awards in November. For more information and to listen to her music, visit .

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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