Young singers from the Lac Seul First Nation in Ontario are a part of N'we Jinan, a Native youth music initiative. Photo from N'We Jinan / Facebook
Donna Loring, a member of the Penobscot Nation, shares a collaboration between Native youth in Maine and N'we Jinan, a Native youth music initiative in Canada:
The workshops started that Monday on Indian Island after school at 3:30PM and lasted depending on how much they needed, until 10:00PM or so. David worked with the youth to get them to write their thoughts down and put them into song. He had three days to get this done before leaving for Pleasant Point. He worked with them to get them to talk about what they were thinking and feeling and then to get them to sing in front of each other. There were a very few who were not shy, but by the end of the three day workshop they were all self confident and wanting to do more and make their voices heard. Pleasant Point had younger kids and they were excellent. I was amazed when we heard the finished product from both communities. We were proud to hear that it made a difference in their lives. One young man, told me this was a life changing experience and one he would never forget. At the end of the day Seven Eagles was so proud of the songs these youth had created. We do have Star Power in our Communities and in my humble opinion these songs are good enough to be on the National Charts.Get the Story:
Donna Loring: Changing Lives With Personal Songs (Indian Country Today 11/22) Also Today:
Northern Saskatchewan First Nations youth release album, video (CBC 11/22)
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