Bio

who is Mitchell Makoons?

Mitchell Makoons (he/him) is a Roots/Rock musician from Brandon, Manitoba, who currently resides in Winnipeg. At the age of seven, Mitchell began playing the guitar to accompany his grandfather and brother as they played Metis fiddle tunes. Makoons continues to be an active member of the Manitoba Metis community and writes songs that combine traditional Ojibway music and culture with modern influences.

Makoons has toured several times across Western Canada and has begun to break into the Canadian festival scene. In 2024, he performed at Dauphin’s Countryfest, Harvest Sun Music Festival, Gentlefest, and Winnipeg Fringe Festival, to name a few.

Makoons released his debut album “Lady Boots” in April of 2024. Of the 8 tracks on the album, 4 have reached the top 10 on the Indigenous Music Countdown with “Courage” and “Changing Man” becoming his first and second No. 1’s. Mitchell’s music is spun frequently on Canadian and American radio and receives international play on Sirius XM. Since 2022, Makoons has been nominated for 9 Manitoba Country Music Awards and won the Emerging Artist of the Year Award in 2024.

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Mitchell Makoons has released five EPs under his legal name, Mitchell Mozdzen, for which he toured Western Canada between 2016 and 2020. In early 2021, he changed his stage name to Mitchell Makoons as a nod to his Ojibway heritage. “Makoons” is an Anishinaabemowin word meaning “Little Bear” or “Bear Cub.” For Mitchell, who stands at five-foot five-inches tall with the spirit name Standing Strong Black Bear, the name “Makoons” is perfectly fitting.