Artist Biography

Hellnback and Lisa Muswagon are members of the Canadian music group The Resilience, focusing on the empowerment of Indigenous voices and promoting awareness of Indigenous social issues. This dynamic duo is also a husband-and-wife couple with 4 daughters and two sons, who surround themselves with family and healing from the impacts of intergenerational traumas. Karmen Omeasoo also known as Hellnback, is from the Samson Cree Nation in Maskwacis, Alberta. He has since relocated in Winnipeg and furthered his solo career releasing the albums “Family Over Everything” and “Fourteen91” which gained a nom nod at the Western Canadian Music Awards in 2019 for Indigenous Artist of the Year. His rap career started at an early age, through inspiration from his older sibling. Hellnback contributed to hip-hop super groups such as Warparty and Team Rezoffical with collaborations from some of Canada’s powerful lyricists. While addressing his own powerful voice, Hellnback is on a kidney journey and is a testimony of his love for hip hop music and culture. 

Lisa Muswagon, a contemporary hand drum singer has been performing since her father Charles Scribe gave her the hand drum at an early age. A member of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation, discovered her love for writing while taking a course in poetry and writing at the university. Her natural ability of storytelling inscribed by her ancestors, led her to follow in her late Moshom’s legacy of storytelling. She released her solo album titled “Buffalo and Rabbits” which tells the story of Wapos (Rabbit) and her journey to seek the round dance. The album earned a nomination at the Indigenous Music Awards and Canadian Folk Music Awards. Watching Hellnback’s career over the years also inspired her to tell stories in a new artform. As a multifaceted artist, researcher, and advocate, it would not be long before she would catch on being mentored by one of Canada’s Indigenous hip-hop legends, her husband Hellnback. 

Facing and powering through the tribulations of chronic kidney disease only demonstrates the resilience and inspires healing, hope and cultural pride, but the opportunity to bridge communities and foster understandings of the journey, as others may experience similarities. Together Hellnback and Lisa Muswagon create impactful music addressing social issues while promoting hope and resiliency. Muswagon also believes the importance of acknowledging and addressing the historical traumas associated with residential school and the need for reconciliation and healing efforts and to be led by Indigenous communities’ initiatives themselves.