Anisininew rapper joins Nelly Furtado onstage for Invictus Games performance

An Anisininew rapper from Garden Hill First Nation in northern Manitoba performed alongside Nelly Furtado for a crowd of around 40,000 people at the star-studded opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in Vancouver. 

The opening ceremony of the games for injured military and service personnel also featured artists Katy Perry, Roxane Bruneau, Noah Kahan, and Coldplay's Chris Martin.

Matthew Monias, who goes by Mattmac, got his first taste of writing and recording music when the N'we Jinan program came to his community in 2017. 

Monias co-wrote Help You See, a song written and recorded by youth in Garden Hill First Nation through the N'we Jinan program — and it was through that song that he caught the attention of Furtado. 

He said it was through that project that Furtado first heard about him. 

"She was like … 'I remember hearing your song on CBC Radio.'" 

Furtado later asked Monias to perform alongside her at the 2017 National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at The Forks in Winnipeg. 

Monias has gone on to win several awards, including the 2022 Canada's Walk of Fame RBC emerging art grand prize, and the 2023 CBC Music Searchlight grand prize. 

Monias said he's still pinching himself that so much has happened in the last few years. 

"I had some goals and affirmations for myself; I didn't think it would be this quick," said Monias.

At the Invictus Games opening ceremony, the duo performed a medley of Furtado's song Powerless and Mattmac's song Rez. 

Overcoming obstacles

Being from a fly-in community, Monias has had to work extra hard to get his music out to the world, and being born blind means he's had to use a lot of adaptive technology to learn how to produce and write music. 

"Coming from a fly-in, remote community and just to see all this stuff happening, to see all the accolades is cool," said Monias. 

"It's been a great time so far."

Garden Hill Chief Dino Flett said his community is proud of everything Monias has accomplished. 

"I've seen him through most of his life where he had challenges," said Flett.

"He never stops on what he tries to do."

Flett said Monias has a "keep going kind of attitude" that helps him overcome obstacles. 

It's that attitude, Flett said, that's inspiring other youth from Garden Hill to follow their dreams. 

"They say they want to follow his steps," said Flett.