Speak/Sing Native™ Artist Archive
Mali Obomsawin
Odanak First Nation
"Mali Obomsawin is a bassist, guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and composer. She is a citizen of Odanak First Nation.
"Obomsawin’s bold artistry punctures the complacency of colonial time with irresistible sound. An international touring artist and celebrated accompanist, her current projects include her eponymous experimental ensemble, the rock band Deerlady, and the Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band. Obomsawin's expansive artistic practice models the complexity of 21st century Indigenous art." (Source: Artist website)
Professional Information
(About the) Mali Obomsawin Sextet at the Arts Center at Duck Creek 0:59 Official 2023
Mali Obomsawin Interview at the Arts Center at Duck Creek 5:23 Official 2023
My Way's Cloudy - Jake Blount & Mali Obomsawin feat. Joe Rainey 3:29 Official 2024
Jason Ma, Mali Obomsawin & Barbara Lynn | Arts Across America: Winter Traditions
Mali Obomsawin section 8:15 - 15:58 Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. Official 2021
Lineage - Mali Obomsawin Sextet live at Pesumkuk 8:14 Live 2023
Mali Obomsawin Sextet - Sweet Tooth, Movement 1 11:18 Live 2023
Deerlady - Seeing Two (Live on KEXP) 4:53 Live 2025
Celebrating Indigenous and Immigrant Heritage with Mali Obomsawin 37:24 Live 2001
Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College
Julia Keefe's Indigenous Big Band, Jake Blount, Joe Rainey,
(About the) Mali Obomsawin Sextet at the Arts Center at Duck Creek 0:59 Official 2023
Mali Obomsawin Interview at the Arts Center at Duck Creek 5:23 Official 2023
My Way's Cloudy - Jake Blount & Mali Obomsawin feat. Joe Rainey 3:29 Official 2024
Jason Ma, Mali Obomsawin & Barbara Lynn | Arts Across America: Winter Traditions
Mali Obomsawin section 8:15 - 15:58 Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. Official 2021
Lineage - Mali Obomsawin Sextet live at Pesumkuk 8:14 Live 2023
Mali Obomsawin Sextet - Sweet Tooth, Movement 1 11:18 Live 2023
Deerlady - Seeing Two (Live on KEXP) 4:53 Live 2025
Celebrating Indigenous and Immigrant Heritage with Mali Obomsawin 37:24 Live 2001
Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College
Experimental jazz, traditional, rock
Musician, composer, songwriter, bandleader
Bass, Guitar, Vocals
Video
- Mali Obomawin, Julia Keefe, Indigenous Big Band
Malia Obomsawin’s composition Blood Quantum - Mali Obomawin, Julia Keefe, Indigenous Big Band
Venue:
Format: Official
Duration: 11:51
- Mali Obomsawin, Jake Blount, Joe Rainey
My Way's Cloudy - Mali Obomsawin, Jake Blount, Joe Rainey
Venue: Smithsonian Folkways
Format: Official
Duration: 3:29
- Deerlady: Mali Obomsawin - Vocal, Bass; Magdalena Abrego - Vocal, Guitar; Evan Woodle - Drums
Seeing Two - Deerlady: Mali Obomsawin - Vocal, Bass; Magdalena Abrego - Vocal, Guitar; Evan Woodle - Drums
Venue: Live on KEXP
Format: Audio
Duration: 4:53
- Jason Ma, Mali Obomsawin & Barbara Lynn
Jason Ma, Mali Obomsawin & Barbara Lynn | Arts Across America: Winter Traditions - Jason Ma, Mali Obomsawin & Barbara Lynn
Venue: The Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Format: Official
Duration:
Mali Obomsawin section 8:15 - 15:58
Tribal Information
Odanak First Nation
also known as "Odanak"
Odanak First Nation is a band in Quebec, Canada. It's located near the mouth of the Saint-François River at its confluence with the St. Lawrence River. It is partly within the limits of Pierreville and across the river from Saint-François-du-Lac. The people's native language is Abenaki. Odanak is an Abenaki word meaning "in the village." As of November 2021, the Nation has 2,771 registered members, including 288 residing on their own reserve.
Odanak First Nation: Abenaki - Quebec, Canada - People Of The East
.There are over 630 First Nations communities in Canada, which represent more than 50 Nations and 50 Indigenous languages. As in the United States, the Canadian Constitution is the supreme law of Canada.
Section 35 of the Constitution Act of 1982 explicitly recognizes and affirms the existing Aboriginal and treaty rights of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada. Section 35 also indicates that the term “Aboriginal peoples of Canada” includes the First Nation, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada.
Further, section 25 of the Constitution Act, 1982 protects the Aboriginal and treaty rights that are recognized in section 35 and ensures that no other provision of the Charter can take away or supersede those rights.