Embedded Files
The Spring 2022 “Climates of Resistance: Raise Your Voice” Project
Raise Your Voice Labs applies methods of musical peacebuilding, facilitated dialogue, and circle singing to help groups find their common ground, share concerns, and voice their collective identity through musical co-creation. Echoing a major tenet in environmental justice, the process is as important as the product: being heard and actively engaging in decision-making is crucial to community empowerment and just outcomes.
The Spring 2022 course community reflected on Indigenous practices of Land Acknowledgement. “Ask the Land” is not about superficial or performative acts of settler-colonial recognition, but rather calls for us to engage equitably with Land and nature as living relatives.
The Rocks had a 100,000 year plan
What will it take for you and me to understand?
We can’t continue the illusion that we are in command…
’Cause we’re a part of the leaves
and the boughs on the trees
and the waves in the seas
and the air that we breathe’s
gonna make us believe
when we finally see
what we’ve done with our greed
As if we’re the only ones who hold the keys?
Maybe ask the Land.
Music Video Credits:
Lyrics by Micah Hendler, Jackson Velli, Anna Comstock, and Becca Farnum
Music by Austin Willacy, Micah Hendler, and Jackson Velli
Video Editing by Amber Schmiesing
Featured Artists:
Emma Morgan-Bennett, Camille Ben, Anna Comstock, Asif Majid, and Jackson Velli
Contributing Artists:
Abdelhaq Ait Boulhous, Sophia Becker, Jay Bishop, Julia Bloomfield, Phoebe Bogdanoff, Emmanuel Brace, Shelley Buonaiuto, Serge Hategekimana, Katharine Heldt, Olivia Henderson, Jayme Hurwitz, Najma Hussein, Micah Hendler, Avantika Kajaria, Iseabail Kelley, Alexandra Kinder, Lily Krasne, Lamont Mason Jr, Rachael Morris, Saverina Morris, Sharanya Mukherjee, Shannon Navarro, Bildad Nyongesa, Aaron Partnow, Katrice Ramirez-Henry, Kalåni Reyes, Shyna Setalvad, Alyssa Sgambati, Anna Spiers, Garrett Turner, Hailey Williams, and Reylon Yount
Indigenous Teachings are excerpted from York University’s “Understanding the Land Acknowledgement” and the Calgary Foundation’s “Land Acknowledgement”, presented by:
Sikskaghee (Black Faced Woman) [Beverly Hungrywolf] from the Kainai Nation
Waabaakaakakzhe zhaashkeezhgokwe (White Raven Woman with Turquoise Eyes) [Amy Desjarlais] from the Wasauksing First Nation; and
Yumotata Mani (Grizzly Walking) [Alice Kaquitts] from the Stoney Nakoda Nation
Created with the Teaching Support of:
Logan Booth, Claire Celestin, Micah Hendler, Shannon Navarro, Kalåni Reyes, Breanna Riddick, Garrett Turner, Austin Willacy, and Reylon Yount
Special thanks to Anne Germanacos and the Firehouse Fund
Report abuse