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We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
Nous remercions le Conseil des arts du Canada de son soutien.
A contemporary roots duo featuring sibling songwriters Leela Gilday and Jay Gilday.
This musical collaboration sees Jay and Leela co-write and co-create new repertoire together, harnessing their talents as deeply insightful and genuine storytellers.
Leela and Jay put on an amazing show that was very well received by our audience, staff, and volunteers. It was just fantastic, and I am so grateful we could bring them to our theatre!
The evening was absolutely freakin’ amazing! A great way to end a great festival!
Sechile Sedare is on a musical journey that bridges the past and the present, the personal and the universal. This duo transcends genres and resonates deeply with the spirit of the land they come from. Sechile Sedare—meaning ‘my younger brother, my older sister’ in the Dene language—represents the powerful connection of family, culture, and storytelling.
Born and raised in the Northwest Territories, Leela and Jay Gilday draw from their Dene heritage and a lifetime of shared experiences. Leela, a JUNO Award-winning artist, brings her soaring vocals and heartfelt lyrics, and Jay brings his passionate voice, textured guitar chops, and captivating storytelling. Together, they harmonize in a way only siblings can—capturing nostalgia, humour, and reflection in every note.
Their songs tell stories of family, land, and fate—With deep roots in the Northern wilderness, and voices that echo across generations, Sechile Sedare invites us all to listen closely and connect with the rhythms of life and the land.
Sechile Sedare brings depth and serenity to their performances: each note they play is crafted to evoke not just sound, but a story—an experience that resonates on a deeply emotional level.
Sechile Sedare is an undeniable combination of extraordinary songwriting, phenomenal vocals, and engaging personalities. The audience was captivated throughout the concert.
Sechile Sedare brought pure joy to our school! Their music, energy, and storytelling had our students engaged from start to finish. It was an unforgettable experience that sparked joy, curiosity, and inspiration throughout our community
Leela and Jay were both incredible to work with! Not only are they comfortable and easy to be around, they are incredible musicians. We have loved working with them, with their easy-going attitudes and fun spirits, they really took the GNAF’s performance evenings to the next level!
Jay Gilday Bio
A vagabond turned mailman, Jay Gilday has searched for himself in the depths of Folk, blues, traditional, rock and most recently soul music. The quest continues as Jay takes his experiences as a half Dene, half Canadian-Irish youth traveling the roads of Canada, the daily roller-coaster of work, family, and performance and weaves them into song. Jay’s live performance is executed with a trained voice and a passion to drive it backed up by a heavy hitting guitar, finger-style or flat-picked, your choice!
Leela Gilday Bio
JUNO award-winning artist Leela Gilday is a Dene trail breaker.
Confessing her stories to her audiences with a gutsy voice and open stage presence, Gilday weaves her experiences as a northerner, a member of the Dene Nation, and a traveller into a beautiful world that transports the listener.
Born and raised in the Northwest Territories, she writes about the people and the land that created her. The power in her voice conveys the depth of her feelings of love and life in a rugged environment and vibrant culture as if it comes straight from that earth. Leela’s family is from Délįne on the shore of Great Bear Lake and her rich vocals dance across the rhythmic beats of traditional Dene drumming as smoothly as a bass line onstage at the largest venues in the country. And she has played them all.
Responsible Agent
NICOLE ROCHEFORT