Our History

Dr. Suzanne Rochon-Burnett formed Kakekalanicks Inc. as an art consulting company to help launch the careers of numerous indigenous, french and women artists back in the 1980’s. She was a mentor and leader who paved the way for a generation of indigenous, French and women in media and communications industry.

Kakekalanicks was brought back by Michele-Elise Burnett, a third-generation broadcaster and lifelong storyteller with over 35 years of experience in media, production, and cultural programming. Her foundation was shaped by her parents, Gordon and Suzanne Burnett—pioneers in Canada’s radio industry—who instilled in her a deep understanding of communications, audience connection, and the power of platform. Together, the Burnett family built and operated Spirit 91.7 FM, the most powerful signal in the Niagara Region, and were among the first to hold two private broadcasting licenses in the country.

Michele-Elise graduated from Ridley College, where the school motto “Terar Dum Prosim – May I be consumed in service” became a personal mantra. She later earned her degree in Radio and Television Arts from what is now Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson), further developing the skills that would shape her creative path.

With this unique background in storytelling, broadcasting, and public engagement, she launched Kakekalanicks as a space to bring stories to life in bold, immersive ways. Today, her work bridges the worlds of sound, performance, historical interpretation, and place-based experience. She collaborates closely with artists, Elders, historians, and community leaders to co-create public works that are emotionally resonant and rooted in shared histories.

Signature productions include the Strawberry Moon Festival, Reawakening: Sounds of the Forest at Ball’s Falls, Rekindling All Our Relations at Niagara Parks, and Her Moccasins Talk at Artpark. She also produced the national touring exhibit If Only These Dresses Could Tell Their Story, and served as Audio Director for the Erie Canal Bicentennial’s Waterway of Change exhibit, where she created 15 audio installations that reshape public understanding through immersive storytelling.

Her multimedia curation includes Mino Bimaadiziwin, and she has produced theatrical works featuring Geneviève Gros-Louis, blending movement, voice, and narrative into transformative live performances.

Michele-Elise is the President of Landscape of Nations 360°, a national education and tourism initiative, and serves on numerous boards including the Niagara Parks Foundation and Brock University’s Board of Emeriti. She is often called upon by cultural institutions and municipalities to design and implement programs that educate, engage, and connect.

At its core, Kakekalanicks is built on a belief that storytelling—when done with care, collaboration, and creativity—can transform how we see each other, ourselves, and the places we call home.