Elektra to release “Snewíyalh tl’a Staḵw (Teachings of the Water)”, a collaborative project with First Nations
Two years in the making, the new video was conceived by co-curator and ethnomusicologist Dr. Jeanette Gallant
Post Sponsored by elektra women's choir
On June 9, Elektra Women’s Choir will release a new video, “Snewíyalh tl’a Staḵw (Teachings of the Water)”.
The video is a musical exploration of water teachings and relationality in First Nations cultures. The fruit of a collaborative project with First Nations lasting over two years, the project was conceived by co-curator and ethnomusicologist Dr. Jeanette Gallant.
Métis composer T. Patrick Carrabré, director of the UBC School of Music and Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, was commissioned to write the musical score with text in the Squamish language that was chosen, gifted, and taught to Elektra by Rebecca Duncan.
The result is a flowing and unique five-movement a cappella work for women’s choir, which explores relationality in the natural world, birth, ceremony, song, and identity.
Dr. Gallant and Mi’kmaq filmmaker Shelley MacDonald created the storyboard, and filmmaker Mike Southworth of Collide Entertainment accompanied the choir to various Metro Vancouver locations as guests from the Coast Salish and Interior Salish cultures taught the singers about each concept.
Don Harder and Grant Rowledge captured the audio recording, following which Southworth directed the creation of the video. Each movement is introduced by one of Elektra’s First Nations collaborators who explains the concept and its intrinsic relationship to water.
Elektra is grateful in the creation of this work for the contributions and Indigenous teachings of Rebecca Duncan, Squamish; Mary Jane Joe (Nk’xetko), Interior Salish Elder; Nadia Joe, Interior Salish (mother’s side) and southern Tutchone-Tlingit, specifically the Crow Clan of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (father’s side); Candice Halls-Howcroft, Squamish; Faye Halls (Yeltsilewet), Squamish Elder; Shelley MacDonald, Mi’kmaq “Ugpi’Ganjig” (Eel River) and Scottish.
The video release takes place on Elektra’s YouTube Channel on June 9 at 7 pm. To receive the link via email in advance, please sign up here.
More information is at Elektra.
Post sponsored by Elektra Women’s Choir.