Land Acknowledgement

We respectfully acknowledge that we live, learn & make music on the traditional and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan People. 

First Peoples Principles of Learning:

• Learning ultimately supports the well-being of the self, the family, the community, the land, the spirits, and the ancestors.
• Learning is holistic, reflexive, reflective, experiential, and relational (focused on connectedness, on reciprocal relationships, and a sense of place).
• Learning involves recognizing the consequences of one‘s actions.
• Learning involves generational roles and responsibilities.
• Learning recognizes the role of Indigenous knowledge.
• Learning is embedded in memory, history, and story.
• Learning involves patience and time.
• Learning requires exploration of one‘s identity.
• Learning involves recognizing that some knowledge is sacred and only shared with permission and/or in certain situations.

​http://www.fnesc.ca/first-peoples-principles-of-learning/

Incorporating the First Peoples Principles of Learning into each music class is an important and meaningful step on the journey towards reconciliation. Music education pedagogy has many similarities with these principles. Pre written musical repertoire stems from history and story telling. Learning how to create music involves patience and time to develop the muscles and skills needed to create beautiful sounds and songs. Learning how to be part of an ensemble and the accountability one has to their team teaches students that actions have consequences and affect those around you. Bringing in master musicians to work as guest clinicians and teaching students to search out those relationships are key to becoming a better musician themselves and ties younger generations to the knowledge and mentorship they can gain from older, more experienced generations. Building a musical identify and exploring how music affects each of us in our daily lives, whether through making music, or appreciating music, can have a great effect on our social emotional development. Finally, searching out repertoire and resources that are appropriate to perform and respectfully honours indigenous culture can impact our students greatly and teach them how land, place, and identity impact the creative process for all. The First Peoples Principles of Learning are truly embedded within music education pedagogy.

Some links to help you learn more:

How to pronounce "Syilx" - www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-EYdfezL24

Okanagan Song: ​www.wfn.ca/okanagansong.htm

Drumming Protocols for Okanagan Song: Link Coming Soon

Okanagan Nation Alliance: ​www.syilx.org/about-us/

​Additional Songs from the Syilx Okanagan Nation: www.syilx.org/about-us/syilx-nation/songs/