Native Threads Profile: DJ KWE

Native Threads is proud to welcome DJ KWE into our family of sponsored artists. She's an award-winning DJ, writer, producer, promoter, photographer, a competitive soccer player and a professional voice talent. Crystal, aka "DJ KWE" is the embodiment of creativity and social consciousness. Born in North Vancouver, B.C. KWE later moved to Toronto, but her tribal nation resides in Manitoba.

What makes her so special? DJ KWE takes you on a journey from the time she steps up on the decks to the time she spins her last track. This woman is taking house music to another level with her unique skills and style, and her undeniable passion for music. In the summer of 2004, KWE (which means "Prairie Sage Buffalo Woman") was selected to represent the Nation of Canada in a battle of DJs from Canada, the USA, and the UK. She captured the WIN and was featured in local newspapers and radio. KWE has compiled, mixed and released five non-stop house mix CDs, showcasing her first three years as a professional DJ and the vast knowledge she has absorbed during a decade of diligently following the electronic music scene.

In 2004, KWE was featured on Canada's national Music television Station, Much Music, in celebration of National Aboriginal Day. She interviewed as one of the few female Aboriginal DJs in Canada. She is currently working on an original audio production a re-mixing of Aboriginal and house music.

KWE the Entrepreneur

In 2003, KWE founded her own production company, "Urban Indian Productions," in the hopes of helping to heal and inspire the world through music. She also produced and hosted "DJ KWE’s WAX WARRIORS," a two-hour FM Radio show on Aboriginal Voices Radio (106.5FM, Toronto). The program integrates traditional teachings through contemporary mediums such as mixed music, spoken word segments and "random acts of kindness" (contest name). DJ KWE was single-handedly responsible for all the program’s creative content, contests, and securing program sponsors.

On Strength, Courage and Faith

Success and happiness have not come easy for KWE. "I am a survivor of distrust, exploitation and pain, but I wouldn’t change one day of my life. I know that I am stronger for the taking... and strongest for the giving. I am a survivor of low self esteem, abuse, and homelessness... I look in the mirror and smile now and know that I love myself as much as I love life."

"I am a survivor from the streets, a youth shelter, and a shared home. I am a survivor of my own stupidity, others’ ill will, and life lessons... I am now grateful for those life lessons. I have faith that I can keep staying positive, staying smart, and staying true to myself. I survived death when I was 16... when my first love had a heart attack at my soccer game and died in my arms. I treasure those who bring love to my life. I now have faith in others and know that we are united... I share a wonderful house and sleep knowing that I’m safe. I have the strength and courage to live in a good way."

Working for the Greater Good

KWE is clearly a GIVER, and one answers to the call of community service. At age 21, KWE served as a youth counselor for "Spirit of the People," a Canadian Aboriginal organization providing services to Native youth in trouble with the law. At 23, she served as External Relations Officer for the First Nations and Aboriginal Student’s Association of York University, Toronto. At 24, her career blossomed when she became the Website Coordinator and Regional Technology Officer for the Canadian Federal Government.

"I have found the red road with musical elements... I know now I can help others through my musical message of healing and inspiration... I believe in walking softly on Mother Earth. ... Give us one inch of land and we’ll feed the community... give us 12 inch’s of vinyl and we’ll feed the world. If I can touch you in some way and bring sunshine into your life... then open your ears and let me feel my way."

KWE was a featured artist and wrote an article that was published in Spirit Magazine’s October issue, which celebrated Aboriginal Music. She was also recently featured on the reality TV show "Diva on a Dime" for Global Prime Network and completely changed her look to match her new style.

Email DJ KWE: djkwe@hotmail.com

Read an interview with DJ Kwe at RezRiders.org

Visit her on her personal site at www.djkwe.tk

Electronic Music Review Colomn hosted in Portugal by "Deeper Soul" called "the jewels of DJ KWE". Visit Deeper Soul

She DJ'd for Toronto's Pride Festival that welcome's over a million visitors in a weekend.

DJ'd for and spoke to the Youth of the Chiefs of Ontario Youth Symposium on Social Development

Abenaki, Algonquin, Apache, Arapaho, Atsugewi, Beothuk, Blackfeet, Caddo, Cahuilla, Catawba, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Chickasaw, Chinook, Choctaw, Chumash, Comanche, Creek, Cree, Crow, Flathead, Gabrielino, Hopi, Houma, Hupa, Huron, Inuit, Iowa, Iroquois, Kickapoo, Kiowa, Kumeyaay, Dakota, Lenape, Mahican, Mattole, Menominee, Miami, Micmac, Miwok, Modoc, Mohican, Mohawk, Mohegan, Montagnais, Mojave, Narragansett, Navajo, Nez Perce, Nunavut, Ojibwe, Ohlone, Omaha, Oneida, Osage, Otoe, Ottawa, Pawnee, Penobscot, Peoria, Pequot, Plains Indian, Pomo, Poncas, Potawatomi, Powhatan, Pueblo, Quapaw, Seminole, Seneca, Shawnee, Sioux, Shoshone, Taos, Timbisha Shoshone, Tolowa, Tonkawa, Ute, Wampanoag, Wailaki, Wichita, Wyandotte, Yokut, Yorok, Yuchi, Zuni