morgan toney

Biography

Morgan Toney is a Mi'kmaq folk singer-songwriter and fiddler born in We'koqma'q First Nation on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. Growing up in a home where the Mi'kmaw language was not spoken due to the impacts of the residential school system, Toney's early musical spark came from watching a DVD of Phil Collins at his uncle's house, which inspired him to start playing drums. As a teenager, he moved to Wagmatcook First Nation, where immersion in Mi'kmaq culture at school—featuring smudging ceremonies, prayers in Mi'kmaq, and the Mi’kmaq Honour Song—ignited his cultural reconnection. There, he transitioned from drumset to First Nations drumming, learning traditional songs directly from elders in talking circles, a form of Mi'kmaq governance.[1][2][3][4][5]

Toney began learning fiddle in the late 2010s, blending it with Mi'kmaq traditions to create his signature 'Mi’kmaltic' style, fusing fiery Cape Breton Celtic fiddling with ancestral Mi’kmaw songs. His career gained momentum after meeting singer-songwriter Keith Mullins, with whom he planned an album disrupted by COVID-19; he debuted at the virtual Celtic Colours festival in 2020 alongside Ashley MacIsaac. His debut album, First Flight (Ishkōdé Records, 2022), won an East Coast Music Award and was nominated for Canadian Folk Music Awards, featuring reimagined traditional songs like Ko’jua and the Mi’kmaq Honour Song alongside original works addressing contemporary issues like racism faced by First Nations. His follow-up, Resilience (2023), earned a 2024 JUNO nomination, establishing him as a key figure bridging cultures.[1][2][3][4][5][7]

Toney's music honors elders' teachings, celebrates Mi'kmaq language and heritage, and unites diverse audiences, earning awards like Indigenous Artist of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards and Music Nova Scotia. Active since 2018, he performs as a vital voice in Atlantic Canada's Indigenous and folk scenes, transforming personal reconnection into a broader cultural legacy.[2][5]

Fun Facts

• His musical journey began transfixed by a Phil Collins DVD at his uncle’s house, leading him to drums before Mi'kmaq traditions.
• Invented the term 'Mi’kmaltic' to describe his fusion of Mi’kmaq songs and Cape Breton Celtic fiddling.
• Surprised collaborator Keith Mullins by singing the traditional Ko’jua dance song over fiddle during an early gig, sparking their viral recording.
• Learned Mi’kmaq songs so ancient that modern speakers struggle to understand the lyrics, preserving them through his music.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Mi'kmaq Elders - Taught traditional songs, language, and cultural practices in talking circles and ceremonies (Songs on First Flight including Ko’jua and Mi’kmaq Honour Song) [Teenage years to present]

Key Collaborators

• Keith Mullins - Singer-songwriter and producer; key partner who recorded early songs and co-developed sound (Ko’jua (viral video and First Flight), First Flight album) [Late 2010s-present]
• Ryan Roberts - Mandolin player; joined to form trio blending Mi’kmaq and Celtic styles (Live performances and recordings post-First Flight) [Early 2020s]
• Ashley MacIsaac - Shared stage at debut festival performance (Celtic Colours festival 2020) [2020]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia