Everyone is welcome to join this ‘lunch and learn’ to learn the Children’s Blessing Song, which will be sung during the Orange Shirt Day Ceremony in Na’tsa’maht (and virtually streamed in the Social Stairs of CHW) on September 29^th.

If you have a drum or rattle please bring it when you log in. Participants will be introduced to the song and how and why it was created, we will learn the beats of the drum/rattle. Participants will have an opportunity to sing the song all together during the meeting to prepare us for the ceremony (and/or for your own learning and growth!).

*The Children’s Blessing Song is an original composition by Cree-Dene musician Sherryl Sewepagaham. The song was first introduced to me by my sister Alana-Joy Nang gulaa k’aldangaas who learned it directly from Sherryl at a music conference a number of years ago. Alana is a music educator and Indigenous Drumming Consultant for School District 61, she also instructs some courses in IECC and has been teaching TTW for a number of years at Camosun. Saza Rose and I sat with her to talk about the song and how we might engage with it at Camosun. Here are a few highlights she shared with us,

• This song is a blessing or prayer song for children (past, present, future). It is a song of courage. When you sing it, you might think of children in your own life, or reflect on past or future children

• This is a public song, which means Sherryl has gifted this song to be sung by anyone. When we sing it, we practice saying who and why the song was created (oral footnoting)

• This song is repeated four times, which is a reflection of Medicine Wheel Teachings. The number four is significant and the melody must be sung in groups of four or more

• The drum/shaker beats alter on the fourth verse (can’t hear the beats very well in this video but we will teach it in person)

• Sherryl created this song in connection to the eagle. Eagles are the highest flying bird and can bring your prayers into the sky. This is why many Indigenous peoples use eagle feathers in ceremony. There are diverse teachings about eagles depending on whose Territory you sing this in

https://youtu.be/_eTRe0ANX0Y?feature=shared

~Natasha Sk’ing lúudas

Education Developer Indigenization