Who is he?
Cody “Coyote” Purcell is an Ottawa based artist, writer and motivational speaker. He was the recipient of “Ottawa’s Hip-Hop Artist Of The Year” at the 2024 Ottawa Awards. He hosts “The Beat” on 95.7 elmnt fm and is the founder of Before Contact Clothing.
What’s his background?
Coyote, 32, was born in Ottawa on unceded, unsurrendered Algonquin territory and grew up in Pineview neighbourhood in Beacon Hill-Cyrville Ward. He is of Ojibwe/Irish descent from Matachewan First Nation, in Treaty No. 9.
What is he known for in Ottawa?
Cody Coyote is a prominent figure in the Indigenous community. His latest album, Passage, released in 2022, speaks to his, his families’ and his communities’ experiences, addressing the abuses committed in residential schools and intergenerational trauma. Coyote referred to the album as a “call to action for people to mobilize …” in an interview with Ryan Pepper for apt613 in 2022. It is a common theme throughout his work.
What do people say about him?
Mindy McCall from IndiePulseMusic complimented Coyote’s song “There Tonight” by writing: “Coyote’s new single is a complete pop package rather than a flawed gem and sets the bar even higher for any future releases. He has a genuine presence as a singer, something you are either born with or otherwise lack, and the buoyancy of his personality shoulders an enormous load in carrying the song.”
Coyote’s website features testimonials from event organizers about previous performances. For example, Lindsey Barr, Founder of World-Changing Kids, writes: “Cody is a natural storyteller who interweaves his teachings with so much love, kindness, honesty and vulnerability that even though the topics are challenging, even though some of the truth can be uncomfortable, he ensures that you feel welcomed, that you feel called in, that you are encouraged to join the fight to help make things better. Vulnerability is Cody’s superpower. You cannot listen to him without being moved.”
What’s something people don’t know about him?
Coyote grew up not knowing his Indigenous family because his father was a part of the infamous ’60s Scoop when dozens of young indigenous children were taken from their families and adopted by white familes.
Coyote and his father found much peace when they reconnected with their relatives from Matachewan First Nation. Coyote was 26 at the time.
