Nikamu Mamuitun at LBPSB Schools
submitted by Sue Simatos
Nikamu Mamuitun, meaning “Songs That Unite Us” is a group of inspiring young first nations and Quebecois musicians. Recently, they performed nine spirited and energetic concerts held throughout the Lester B. Pearson School Board.
The artists wrote all the songs featured in the program, in French and indigenous languages. They also share their thought-provoking and touching personal stories. Some of the musicians traveled over 1000 kilometers for this event.
Nikamu Mamuitun originally came together in response to Truth and Reconciliation Commissions’ 94 Calls to Action. Number 62 is “To make age-appropriate curriculum on residential schools, Treaties, and Aboriginal peoples’ historical and contemporary contributions to Canada a mandatory education requirement for Kindergarten to Grade Twelve students.”
One school was selected from each district of the school board for a total of 8 concerts with 6 participating elementary and high schools. Rosemary Hill along with Emma Cartile and a team of students from BHS created a preparatory video that was shown to all participating students before they attended the concert.
In addition, Ms. Simatos offered workshops to each school, in which they created their own personal Territorial Land Acknowledgement in order to open each concert. Schools also gave the musicians and their production team meaningful gifts to show their appreciation and gratitude. It took a village to organize a concert of this magnitude.
The Territorial Land Acknowledgement created by grade 6 students from Maple Grove Elementary Kaylee, Shanna, Isabella, Addison, Zakery, and with guidance from their teacher, Cheryl Villeneuve, reads as follows:
We would like to acknowledge that Maple Grove Elementary School is located on the unceded territory of the Kanien’keha:ka (Mohawk) people.
We are thankful for the bright sun and cool breeze that surrounds us. We love to observe the animals and rest in the shade of the maple trees. We appreciate the white moon and the stars in the night sky. We are appreciative of the honey that our school beehive produces. We are also thankful for the maple syrup that the trees allow us to enjoy. We appreciate the clean air that the plants provide us with and the clean water that allows us to survive.
As we are learning more and more about our relationship with the land around us, we plan on learning about how we can protect it for future generations. We will strive to keep the land clean and the waterways clean for all to enjoy.
We thank the Kanien’keha:ka (Mohawk) people for taking care of the land where we go to school, live and play with our friends.
The students of Lakeside Academy attended a concert held in the school’s auditorium. Principal Maggie Wilkinson was visibly proud of the respectful but enthusiastic crowd of students who listened as students Eden Maj and Iakohahi:io Norton introduced the artists and said the land acknowledgement in English and Kanien’kéha.
The band got the crowd involved, clapping along, and even dancing and following a drummer around the auditorium as the final piece of music was performed.
The collaborative project between LBPSB and Festival de la Voix was organized by Festival de la Voix’s Kerry-Anne Kutz, LBPSB’s Indigenous Liaison Sue Simatos, Educator Rosemary Hill and BHS student Emma Cartile. The project is a fine example of nations developing long lasting meaningful relationships together through the common joy and love of song writing and music making and is a fantastic role model for the students.
