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In 2022 choral director, Elizabeth Berndt, chanced upon the music video of “Snewíyalh tl'a Staḵw” (“Teachings of the Water”) when researching music for Shelton’s Women of Note. The music was the fruit of a three-year collaboration with a Canadian women’s choir and local First Nations, conceived by co-curator and ethnomusicologist Dr. Jeanette Gallant. The collaboration was inspired by the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission report, a guideline with considerations and approaches to begin to repair the wrongs done to the First Nation People.
Ms. Berndt always liked the songs music director Morna Edmundson commissioned for her choir, and sure enough, this was an intriguing five-movement a cappella work in the Squamish language, which was commissioned, recorded and released by Elektra women’s choir. To learn more about this fascinating story, visit Youtube: Listener's Guide - Snewíyalh tl’a Staḵw (Teachings of the Water). According to Women of Note director Elizabeth Berndt, “I am always considering what would be new and interesting to people in our community; songs that allow audiences to experience something more than just entertaining. This music is perfect. Water teachings explored in this work include the ideas of nature, birth, ceremony, song and identity.” |
Indigenous educator and musician Tsitsáyxemaat (Rebecca Duncan) shared the Sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish) language words for these concepts, and gifted the texts on behalf of her people. She has devoted her life to preserving the language, and cultural teachings that have been handed down to her by her late grandfather from his grandfather, and so on since the beginning of time. Rebecca has performed worldwide, promoting language and culture, representing Coast Salish people, practicing protocols with song and dance, and sharing history through storytelling.
T. Patrick Carrabré, a Métis musician and composer who was adopted and grew up without knowledge of his heritage, says this, “My contribution has been the musical pitches and their general rhythmic profile. For those who come after us, please accept this invitation to connect to the traditional owners and caretakers of your land, learn about their customs and their language, share the joy of music and feel free to adapt my contribution to create a work that is meaningful to your place.”
Women of Note has tried to do just that. This is a concert unlike any other. Dates: Gull Harbor Lutheran Church, 4610 Boston Harbor Rd NE, Olympia on Saturday, May 24th at 3:00 pm. St. David Episcopal Church, 324 W Cedar Street, Shelton on Sunday, May 25th at 3:00 pm. No advance tickets required. Free and open to the public. Donations gratefully appreciated to ensure the arts thrive in our community.
T. Patrick Carrabré, a Métis musician and composer who was adopted and grew up without knowledge of his heritage, says this, “My contribution has been the musical pitches and their general rhythmic profile. For those who come after us, please accept this invitation to connect to the traditional owners and caretakers of your land, learn about their customs and their language, share the joy of music and feel free to adapt my contribution to create a work that is meaningful to your place.”
Women of Note has tried to do just that. This is a concert unlike any other. Dates: Gull Harbor Lutheran Church, 4610 Boston Harbor Rd NE, Olympia on Saturday, May 24th at 3:00 pm. St. David Episcopal Church, 324 W Cedar Street, Shelton on Sunday, May 25th at 3:00 pm. No advance tickets required. Free and open to the public. Donations gratefully appreciated to ensure the arts thrive in our community.
Learn more about...
British Columbia's First Nations Cultures
Pacific Northwest Coast Salish
Dr. Jeanette Gallant
T. Patrick Carrabré
Morna Edmundson, Elektra Women’s Choir
Elektra
British Columbia's First Nations Cultures
Pacific Northwest Coast Salish
Dr. Jeanette Gallant
T. Patrick Carrabré
Morna Edmundson, Elektra Women’s Choir
Elektra
Concert Repertoire Over the Years
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