Lyz Jaakola

Elizabeth “Lyz” Jaakola is a musician and educator, and an enrolled member of the Fond du Lac band of Lake Superior Ojibwe in Cloquet, MN. She teaches Music, American Indian studies & Media Production at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. She performs and composes in many styles and genres including traditional Anishinaabe music, jazz, blues and opera, her Native-based compositions have also been heard on radio and television. Lyz is always striving to promote Anishinaabe music and education through her collaborations, performances, and composition. Her career spans numerous programs with Arrowhead Chorale, Echoes of Peace Choir, KBEM jazz radio, and many districts in Minnesota while a musical relationship with Finland includes performances with YLE, WSOY and a FINtango residency.  Awards are not the reason Lyz works, but she has received 2009 Native American Music Award, 2012 First Peoples’ Fund Community Spirit Award, 2013 Sally Ordway Irvine Award, Arrowhead Regional Arts 2014 George Morrison Artist Award, Classical MPR’s Class Notes Artist, 2018 AICF Educator of the Year and AARP’s 50 over 50 in 2022.

As well as being a mother, wife and daughter, and in 2020, Lyz ran and was elected to the Cloquet City Council representing Ward 5.