Noel Habel
Noel Habel is a member of the Sioux Valley Dakota First Nation with a degree in music and arts administration from the University of Ottawa. He has played in several bands as a drummer and percussionist in the Ottawa area before settling down and starting a family. His artistic career was put on hiatus for 14 years while he worked as a program officer for the Canada Council for the Arts travelling to many communities and events to help Indigenous artists in the pursuit of their project and career goals. Noel moved to Quebec City in July of 2018 to experience more personal and professional challenges and in addition to crafting his artistic persona William C. Wikcemna Yamni Ake Wanzi and releasing his first 2 singles, he also narrated a governor general award-winning book Mamaskatch by author Darryl McLoed. He helped the Franco-Ontarian pop group LGS promote their #1 single On Perds La Tête throughout Ontario and Quebec, performing live with the group at several radio station. In the summer of 2019, he travelled to Switzerland with Indigenous troupe Kwaweyih to present a 2-hour DJ set at the Paleo music festival. He also worked as a consultant for the literary committee of Canada FBM2020 which had the responsibility of organizing the Canadian representation as the guest of honor at the Frankfort Book fair in 2021. He is still employed by the Canada Council for the Arts and working on releasing his first solo album in his spare time.
