Eight of the eleven students featured in "Tie Our Spirits," a joint St Joseph's and N'we Jinan project. Front, from left, Emma Mason, Lucy D'Atri, Janelle Lenart, Mackenzie Ritchie, Ireland Solomon. Back row, from left, Mia Roote, Quinntana Dowling, Dominic D'Atri. Missing from the photo are Eric Capstick, Larissa Mason and Gaige Cameron-Nashkewa.
Hub Staff
Eleven Ojibwe students from St Joseph's School have entangled viewers in a portrayal of who they are and where they come from. Their music video “Tie Our Spirits” was posted on YouTube March 22 and at the time of publishing had already exceeded 2,600 views.
In just four days and with the support of N’we Jinan, a non-profit organization that develops artistic and educational programs in First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities and schools, the students wrote, recorded, filmed and produced a work of art that surprised everyone, including themselves. The students explained how they each wrote their own parts independently and a songwriter from N’we Jinan helped them stitch it together into verse and song.
The song title, “Tie Our Spirits” originated from a Treaty belt they created at St Joseph’s School in Port Elgin, where everyone at the school strung beads that were then woven together. The concept evolved as the song was fabricated. One student, Eric Capstick interpreted it as being nice and treating others how you want to be treated. He said if you see someone feeling down at school we can tie our spirits and help them up. Another student added, it’s about how we want to feel when we come to school. All the students agreed it incorporates bringing their traditions back to the school; traditions such as the drumming and the snow snakes featured in the video.
Natalka Pucan, Anishinaabe language and cultural teacher at St Joseph's was introduced to N’we Jinan at a national Indigenous education conference and has since advocated for a school in her district to take on the project. She presented the idea to Keith Walsh, Principal at St Joseph's, who wholeheartedly jumped on board. Pucan concluded, it all came together at the right time with the right group of kids.
A few of the students admitted the experience had unearthed a confidence they didn’t know they had.
“I didn’t really think I would be able to do that," admitted Lucy D’Atri.
While the students watched the video, they laughed self-consciously but their pride still shone through. As their lyrics say, “Our pride is fearless in truth, let’s tie our spirits to you.”
Saugeen First Nation has requested a live performance from the students and the group has been invited to sing their song at the Bishop’s dinner in April.
