Manitoba’s Mitchell Makoons offers an optimistic song of resilience on “Courage”

Mitchell Makoons (he/him) is a roots/rock musician from Brandon, Manitoba. Mitchell started playing guitar at the age of seven to accompany his grandfather and brother playing Metis fiddle tunes. Mitchell continues to be an active member of the Manitoba Metis community. The songs Mitchell writes incorporate traditional Ojibway music and culture with modern influences. 

Mitchell has toured several times across Western Canada and has begun to break into the Canadian festival scene. In 2023, Mitchell performed at Dauphin’s Countryfest, Ste. Madeline Metis Days, All Folk’d Up Music Festival and Winnipeg Fringe Festival, to name a few.

Mitchell has released 4 singles and 1 EP to date. He has received radio play across Canada, United States and on SiriusXM. Two of Mitchell’s singles have made it to the top 10 on the Indigenous Music countdown with “Still My Father’s Son” peaking at No. 5. In 2022, Mitchell was nominated for 3 Manitoba Country Music Awards. 

“Courage” is one of the 7 sacred teachings used in Ojibway culture. Mitchell in a new and turbulent state of life, harkened back to this teaching inspired by watching birds be carefree. All I really needed to achieve my upcoming goals was some courage, so I put down some tobacco, prayed to the Creator and wrote this song.