Akina Shirt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Akina Shirt
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Performing at a Calgary Flames game
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Akina Shirt
January 18, 1994 |
| Nationality | Cree |
| Known for | Vocals |
Akina Shirt is a talented First Nations singer from Canada. She was born on January 18, 1994, in Edmonton, Alberta. Akina is especially known for singing in the Cree language, which is an Indigenous language spoken by many First Nations people.
Before she became widely known, Akina sang in several choirs. These included Victoria School's Mixed Jazz Choir and the well-known Kokopelli Choir. She also sang with the Shaftesbury High School choir and the Sacred Heart Church of First People's Choir.
Akina Shirt's Famous Performances
Singing the National Anthem
Akina Shirt gained a lot of attention on February 3, 2007. She sang "O Canada", the Canadian national anthem, in the Cree language. This special performance happened at a National Hockey League (NHL) game. The game was between the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks.
This was a very important moment in Canadian history. It was the first time the national anthem was sung in an Indigenous language at a major sports event in Canada. The night before the game, Akina was interviewed on CBC Radio One's As it Happens show. She even sang the anthem on the radio program.
Recording for Education
In 2006, Akina also recorded a special five-song CD. This CD was made for Alberta Education. It was part of their new social studies curriculum, which started in June 2007. Her music helped students learn about different cultures and languages.
Akina has performed at many famous places. These include the Francis Winspear Centre for Music and the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. She has also sung at the Jack Singer Concert Hall in Calgary, along with other venues.
