Imagine being 13 years old, and leaving everything behind… your home, family, friends, and everything familiar, just to get an education.
For hundreds of Indigenous youth in Northern Ontario, this isn’t a “what if.” It’s real. Every September, teens leave their remote First Nation communities and move to Thunder Bay to attend DFC High School.
They arrive in a city they’ve never seen, live with people they’ve never met, and navigate a culture that often feels worlds apart from their own.
That’s where Wake the Giant comes in.
Wake the Giant started in 2019. It was created to help communities better respond to racism, celebrate Indigenous culture, and support youth as they transition into city life in Thunder Bay. It’s not just a concert, it’s a movement to amplify Indigenous voices, create safe spaces, and celebrate culture in a big, unforgettable way.
Every year the music festival becomes one giant welcome party for DFC students, creating a moment where the whole community shows up and says YOU BELONG HERE.
Led by a team of dedicated volunteers, Wake the Giant not only hosts a festival, it also:
- Delivers cultural awareness training.
- Runs student orientation programming.
- Leads a decal initiative that supports local businesses and organizations to create safe spaces for Indigenous peoples.
- Welcomes hundreds of Indigenous youth who travel from remote northern communities to attend DFC High School in Thunder Bay.
THREE WAYS WAKE THE GIANT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
1
THE DFC EXPERIENCE
Wake the Giant doesn’t end when the music does. Students learn directly from performing artists, creators and leaders through hands-on workshops.
Past guests have included singer‐songwriter Jessie Reyez, Metric, Coleman Hell, Neon Dreams, Top Chef Canada’s Hayden Johnston, DJ Shub, influencer Shayla Stonechild, and journalist/author Tanya Talaga.
“Our future as Indigenous peoples is the youth. They will be the warriors that take our culture into and beyond the 21st century.”
Dan GeneraL — DJ Shub
Every year, it’s also a tradition to have DFC students perform on stage at the festival, creating some once in a lifetime experiences for the youth. Highlights include an original song written and performed with July Talk, students dancing and rapping with DJ Shub and his War Club team and youth Jingle Dress Dancers opening X Ambassadors set (featured on CBC National).
Back in 2023 student and piano sensation Malachi Beardy, performed just before the final act of the night in front of a crowd of more than 7,000 people. Beardy, who was only 17 years old at the time, played a song that he composed himself and is a self- taught musician.
2
THE DFC AMAZING RACE
Inspired by the show, this experience helps students to navigate around Thunder Bay to familiarize themselves with the layout of the city, public transit, organizations, important places and services in the community. It’s about building confidence and a sense of belonging.
3
Wake The Giant Music Festival
Wake the Giant is a music festival fused with a giant cultural celebration (a festival Round Dance could break out at any time!) The Thunder Bay Waterfront comes alive with favourite tunes (there’s always a throwback from the 90’s), traditional drums, the smell of bannock tacos in the air, and the ringing of jingle dresses. It’s a festival that actually means something.
