There is no stopping a woman with determination. Couple that trait with raw natural talent and you have what fuelled Wikwemikong’s very own Crystal Shawanda to succeed as one of this area’s most successful country music stars.

Spartan Youth Radio reporters Rachel Raguth, Blake Priddle and producer Jayson Stewart, with a camera crew in tow, met with Shawanda during the second annual Aboriginal Youth Day at Tom Davies Square in Sudbury in April.

Shawanada spoke eloquently about how important it is for everyone to have an understanding of the cultures that make up our communities.

“I think it’s really important [to have an understanding of Native culture], for all sides, whether you’re Native American or not because I’m a firm believer that knowledge is power,” said Shawanda.

Despite her engaging personality, warm smile and humour, Shawanda is no stranger to discrimination and misunderstanding.

“We tend to fear what we don’t know and I think sometimes people get nervous because they don’t know the proper way to refer [to First Nations culture]. They’re like ‘what kind of tribe or is that what you call it?’” she explained.

“ They get scared and I always encourage people to ask questions. The only way you’re going to know is to ask questions. I’m always trying to teach people about my culture. The more that you know, the less you fear and the less that we fear, the closer we all get.”

Students got close to the engaging singer, who posed for photos, signed autographs and stood as a strong role model for the hundreds of students who participated in the conference. Future musicians learned a lot from the award-winning performer.

“My influences started with my dad and my mom. They will tell you that they are not singers but I’ve heard them enough to tell you that they can carry a tune,” she shared with the crowd.

“I wanted to sing like Loretta Llynn, be a songwriter like Hank Williams and be a crazy wild outlaw like Waylon Jennings. I have a lot of heroes and think everyone’s my teacher.”

Despite having strong roots to the LaCloche and Manitoulin areas, Shawanda now lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Moving away was tough.

“Leaving [Wikwemikong] was the easy party. It’s staying gone that is the hard part,” she told Spartan Youth Radio.

“When I get lonely or when things get tough or frustrating, there’s always that temptation to go home. Sometimes I feel like I’m missing so much yet I know what I’m doing is so important and is way bigger than me and way bigger than my family. What I can do can have a positive impact on a lot more people.”

Crystal Shawanda’s impact has won her the 2009 Juno Award for Best New Artist, 2009 Canadian Country Music Association Award for Album of the Year and Female Artist of the Year and both the 2008 Canadian Aboriginal Music Award and 2008 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Awards.

Shawanda’s next album will be released late in June.

To watch Spartan Youth Radio’s complete interview with Crystal Shawanda and other fascinating people, visit spartanyouthradio.com. Spartan Youth Radio; We’re All Kinds of Different.