As hereditary chiefs with the Wet’suwet’en nation sit down with federal and provincial politicians, musicians thousands of kilometres away were joining forces to support them.

Some big names took to the stage in Toronto.

It was a benefit concert that raised money for two legal fights that that the Wet’suwet’en Nation is undertaking; a judicial review of the approval of the Coastal Gaslink pipeline and the other deals is a challenge under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the climate.

Canadian and Indigenous music elite offered the gift of song and a message of unity at the concert.

Chantal Kreviaszuk, Amanda Rheaume and ShoSona Kish were on hand.

“We’re here at the great hall in Tkaronto for we are the stronghold here in Tkaronto and this is the first of many events lighting up across Turtle Island and around the world to raise awareness and funds for our brothers and sisters in Wet’suwet’en,” said Kish.

Also on the line up, Digging Roots, Bear Witness, Cris Derksen, New Tradition and Serena Ryder.

“The way that the world can be a better place is to just look at how Indigenous people have lived and are living their lives,” she said. “We need to start living that way.”

The concert was sold out organizers say nearly $15,000 was raised for Raven’s Trust – an organization that funds Indigenous legal challenges.

Allana McDougall Allana is a graduate of the Indigenous Studies program at Trent University and the new media journalism program at Sheridan College. She worked at Sudbury.com and TVO before coming to APTN National News where she now covers Indigenous stories in Southern Ontario as a video journalist. McDougall is a member of Hiawatha First Nation.

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