Mahlikah Awe:ri a drum talk poetic rapologist of African-Canadian/Mohawk (Kahnawá:ke) & Mi'kmaw (Bear River) heritage, with Nova Scotian roots, based in Toronto. Mahlikah is a founding member of Red Slam Collective a Hip Hop Fusion Band, of diverse indigenous artists who also deliver 4 Direction Urban arts based community engagement projects with youth across Ontario. She is on the OAC Aboriginal Artists in the Schools roster; and is a TDSB Artist as a member of the ANDPVA. In 2011 she released the EP Serpent's Skin and 2 Dream In Colour was published in the 6th Edition of Diaspora Dialogues TKO.

Toronto is a hub for new and innovative artistic initiatives many of which are being lead by emerging artists who are connected to the urban arts scene. Art and community in my culture are interrelated and support each others personal growth and development.