‘Protect Our Land’ was written by a group of youth from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation at the Siʔáḿθɘt middle school. 

Lyrics written and recorded by: 
Takiyah Hood Sulin, Arianna Green, Naomi Niles, José Gramani, Robert Jr. George, Naomii Thunderblanket, Lawrence Rivera George, Kadence George, Layla George, Kylie Mills, Kenyon George, Georgia Morrison and Lexi Francis

Traditional singing by:
Robert Sr. George 

Produced by:
Christian Monias(CJAY GRIZ) and Milan André Boronell

Mixed by:
Milan André Boronell

Mastered by:
Kristofer Harris 

LYRICS:

CHORUS
Protect our land, from the pollution 
Hold my hand, let’s find a solution 
Heya Heya, it’s not an illusion
Heya heya, this is a movement 

TAKIYAH
I am proud of my home and my culture 
I get to sing and dance, drum with friends

ARIANNA
Drumming and singing by the ocean and the water 
It makes me feel great when I’m on the land walking 
Hear the elders talking, hear the elders speak 
Always find my peace when I’m chilling by the beach 

NAOMI
I find peace at my dad’s house 
I wanna make my home and my family proud
Where I’m from, might be a little place
But we keep it charged like batteries, Triple AAA

JOSÉ and ROBBIE
North Shore Way, you put us in a small space
We’ll fight to get our land back
This is our soundtrack

NAOMII T
In the snowy mountains where it’s cold and crisp 
I’m trying to make you see like an optometrist
Because my language and culture is out of focus
But you’ll never cut me down like you did the forest 

CHORUS
Protect our land, from the pollution 
Hold my hand, let’s find a solution 
Heya Heya, it’s not an illusion
Heya heya, this is a movement 

LAWRENCE
My knowledge is heavy 
M nation is deadly 
But all I wanna know is 
If the bannock is ready

KADENCE
I’ll tell you what’s on my mind 
I don’t like the pipeline 
Get the oil out
The water is our lifeline 

LAYLA and TYLIE
They stole our land, we want it back
We’re proud of the culture, our language too
We follow steps our elders do
We like weaving together
We learn and get better 
When we make mistakes
We help each other 



KENYON
I’m going in for my nation, no hesitation, it’s land back 
I keep my culture on my shoulders like a backpack
I live for these mountains, I’m counting my blessings 
Give every ounce of strength so my family ain’t stressin’ 

LEXI
Learn about the past,
The good and the bad 
Clean up the land, the ocean, the sky 
The wind in my hand 

CHORUS
Protect our land, from the pollution 
Hold my hand, let’s find a solution 
Heya Heya, it’s not an illusion
Heya heya, this is a movement

GEORGIA (it’s not the same without you :) 
Cold waves, flow pulls me, the current stays 
Canoeing in the water, my happy place

PROTECT OUR LAND // Tsleil-Waututh Nation School

'Be Free' was written and recorded by a group of youth at Cardston Junior High School in the Blood Tribe First Nation. 

Lyrics written and recorded by:

Mason Oka, Dixie Good Striker, Jerrhan First Charger, Ryver Stepan, 
Rhegan Shade, Novalie Chief Calf, Michael Sweet Grass, Johnny Manson, Ceanae Cerisano, Ellie Fox, Emma Mountain Horse, Kodi Bruckner

Traditional language recorded by Moses.

Produced by:
Caid Jones and Milan André Boronell

Mixed by:
Milan André Boronell

Mastered by:
Kristofer Harris 

LYRICS:

MASON
I’m helping future generations 
Move forward with their nations
Understanding our cultures 
We’re planning our futures

DIXIE
They took our land 
They took our people 
Come take my hand
And hold it 'till you never feel alone

JERRHAN
I am the one who stands alone
Don't stop me, don't mess with my home
I am the one who doesn't fit in
Why? Is it because of my red skin? 
They call us indians like they know us all
Well screw off. 
You wont break us down
We are not weak, we are strong
If you thought that before, then you thought wrong

RYVER
Driving through the city when it rains in my own space
Overthinking 'bout it all but it's okay
I been gone it all feels so grey
Bring colour through the music now I'm loving my place

RHEGAN
Too much inside my head 
Lonely road, know where I am
Cloudy thoughts inside my mind  
Love for myself I will find

CHORUS
I wanna dance, I wanna be free
Leave us alone, I wanna be me 
Healing our past, in a new world 
Forget those lies, you’ve been told


NOVALIE
I learn about my traditions at the Sundance, it’s my chance 
To see the ways of my people 
To feel the love, see the eagle

MIKEY
Having fun like we walking to the pow wow
Got the culture like you know we never bow down
Uh, yeah, I have the hustle
I'm on the grounds where I'm fixing up my bustles 

JOHNNY
Too many thoughts feeling spaced out
In this world I'm just tryna find a way out
Start watching while they thinking that I play around
It's a long way home, now I know what it's about

CEANEA
In the rain when it comes around 
All these thoughts gotta let 'em out 
Blue I don't wanna feel it 
Truth I just want the healing 

ELLIE
At the Pow wow, I clear my head
I feel strong and I feel brave
In my bones, I feel the sage
This is my safe place

CHORUS
I wanna dance, I wanna be free
Leave us alone, I wanna be me 
Healing our past, in a new world 
Forget those lies, you’ve been told

EMMA & KODI
We’re going to the powwow 
We’re gonna have a good time 
Drinking our bepsi
Eating our fried bread 
Gonna do a round or two
Before grand entry 
We finally have our culture back

BE FREE // Cardston Junior High School // Blood Tribe First Nation

‘CULTURE’ was written by a group of youth from the ʔaq̓amnik̓ school in the community of ʔaq̓am.

Lyrics written and recorded by:
Chenae Osborne, Morningstar Adams, Kage Kains, Elijah Lezard, Alex Joe, Michael Fischer

Music produced and mixed by:
Caid Jones

Mastered by:
Kristofer Harris

LYRICS:

CHORUS 
Music brings us closer
To family and our culture
Disconnected but not anymore
Say our prayers then we let them go 

ELIJAH
No more holding onto my past
Everybody here is my fam
I am proud of who I am
Build myself up again, yeah yeah

Let me think for myself again
( can’t go through all that again yah yah) x2

KAGE & MICHAEL
(Kage)
Where do I go next 
It’s been so hard to beat this quest

(Michael)
Aye is you okay? 
Come with your family’s its the day

(Kage)
I’m in this game tho I’m feeling stuck
So much hurting for our people 
I just want to give them love

CHENAE
Music helping me with my struggles 
Not all these people are humble
Feeling proud I’m going up levels
I was sad won’t sit in those puddles, no

We can bring awareness
We can bring awareness   
Music makes us feel safe

CHORUS 
Music brings us closer
To family and our culture
Disconnected but not anymore
Say our prayers then we let them go 

MORNINGSTAR
This song is about community
I feel that we need unity
Our language keeps us pure and free
Our ancestors, our legacy 

ALEX
Runnin' again I see somebody crying
Find the truth and don’t be lyin’
Better do something
Our people realize
The magic’s in our hands


KAGE & MICHAEL
I want to explore
The rivers and the ocean floor
The mountains and the deer up north

CULTURE // ʔaq̓amnik̓ school

'QUITE THE LIFE' was created by a group of youth from Alert Bay on the 'Na̱mg̱is Nation. 

Lyrics written and recorded by:
William Whonnock, Sarah-Martha Bruce, Mark Isaac, Karmen Sawyer,Peyton Brotchie, Daunte McKinney, Jason Speck, Brennan Sawyer, Jacob Williams, Claire Willie.

Ławis’tsis - 'Farewell Song' sung by Karmen and Brennan Sawyer.

Produced by:
Milan André Boronell

Mixed by:
Milan André Boronell

Mastered by:
Kristofer Harris

LYRICS:

WILLIAM
I got quite the life, I come alive at night 
Sunsets on the bay, I’m feeling nice
Life is a journey, taking back these rights 
All my ancestors holding the light

SARAH
Thoughtful memories, special opportunities
Learn our history
Give back to our community

MARK
I’m dreaming of better days
I’ve got quite the life, it’s not a phase
It feels crazy, but it’s not too hard
Gotta do our part, gotta gotta use our hearts

CHORUS
We wanna be heard, we wanna be seen 
We’re tryna learn, what they tried to burn 
They thought we were gone, they were wrong T
he legacy lives on, we gotta be strong

KARMEN
Colorful memories
Sunset tones and the ocean breeze 
What does the future need?
Family connection, culture and preservation

PEYTON
On the field, we’re all connected
We keep our culture alive and respected
I wanna inspire the world, to release the spirit 
Learn the language, so they can hear it

DAUNTE
The future needs change, from all the pain
Same, game, caught in the rain 
I hope that it stops
I hope we remember what we forgot

JASON
I’m on a journey to be better
Overcoming something, now we’re coming together
We’re the next generation, no longer patient 
Keeping the culture alive for our nation

BRENNAN
Weight on my shoulders to keep the language alive 
Bringing the songs back to life
They tried to stop us from celebrating, but we kept going 
Now today, our identity is still showing

CHORUS
We wanna be heard, we wanna be seen 
We’re tryna learn, what they tried to burn 
They thought we were gone, they were wrong T
he legacy lives on, we gotta be strong

QUITE THE LIFE // 'Na̱mg̱is Nation // Alert Bay

‘PAIN and STRENGTH’ was written by a group of youth from the Kyuquot Elementary Secondary School on the Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’ / Chek’tles7et’h’ territory. 

Lyrics written and recorded by:
Serina Blackstone, Christine Puglas, Braelene Leo, Naomi Vincent, Eva Smith, Shea Mark, Danika Mack, Desmond Bell, Caitlyn Smith and Mya Smith.

Traditional singing and drumming recorded by:
Brandon Smith

Prayer recorded by:
Lucy Pavio

Language consultation by:
Daisy Hanson

Music production by:
Kiva Morgan-Hall and Milan André Boronell 

Mixed by:
Milan André Boronell 

Mastered by:
Kristofer Harris

LYRICS:

SHEA, NAOMI and BRAELENE 
Please help and guide us
Through our pain and our strength
We will heal 
We give thanks

SERINA
Headaches are coming and going 
Can’t stop overthinking, my heart is racing 
I can’t stop pacing, won’t stop shaking 
Stressing about my education 

CHRISTINE
Release the problem, demons and goblins 
Got a million problems and a million things to do 
I just want to be happy with the one I love the most. 
I’m happy when I’m with you 

BRAELENE 
Walking through the forest is refreshing 
Visiting the rivers is healing 
West Coast storms are energizing 
The trees and wind are always fighting 

NAOMI 
I represent, the best on the west 
A paradise that’s also a mess
But we stay strong and we never do wrong

CHORUS
Please help and guide us
Through our pain and our strength
We will heal 
We give thanks

EVA 
Keep yourself clean inside 
It’s ok to feel your mind 
Stop choosing poison 
Choose your children 

SHEA
I miss you and I don’t know what to do 
I feel so lost 
You never leave my mind 
I just miss your touch and your smile

DAN
No words on the court  
I feel free 
When I play sports 
I let go of the pain I see 

DEZ 
Staying strong, while I sing this song 
Can’t let my guard down 
Disconnection that’s what’s wrong
Judgment cuz my skin is brown

CAITLYN
It’s ok to not feel ok
Having these thoughts everyday 
Letting go of what is wrong
That is why I’m singing this song
I just want us to all get along

CHORUS
Please help and guide us
Through our pain and our strength
We will heal 
We give thanks

*Spoken chorus translated into the Nuu-chah-nulth traditional language

PAIN & STRENGTH // Kyuquot Elementary Secondary School

“FOR THE PEOPLE” was written by the Youth Visions Council of Tl’azt’en Nation, BC.

A big a thank you to our Elders, Doreen Austin, Jonas Morris & Frank Joseph, and to our community liaison worker, Troy Findlay for supporting us in learning the language.

And to Georgina Alexis & Christian Harpe for supporting our project and chanting with us.

Lyrics written and recorded by: Jodie Pierre, Ethan Joseph, Gabriel Joseph Junior, Donaven Winser, Joshua Monk, Brodie Joseph & Brett Felix.

Music produced and mixed by:
Thanya Iyer & Simba Wilson

Mastered by:
Pompey

LYRICS:

GROUP CHANT:
"WHO DO WE IT FOR? FOR THE PEOPLE!"

CHORUS (JODI):
Our wish is to Huba Whul’en the Ts’oodune-ya for the future generations
Our strength is in our Ts’oodune-ya, Our dreams are with ya - the future is yours


ETHAN:
I work day to day in every way to reconnect and motivate
Why was it the way it was back in the days?
Nowadays it’s not the same with our Elders teaching us the ways

I remember hearing about the past
Hearing the Elders talk to us
About how they hurt, how they struggled before us

The government did us so so wrong
For so so long
Forget about us?
Why do you think we say why us? 
    
JUNIOR:
I want to fly above the mountains
Cruise through the seas
I wanna run up all these thousands day ones with me

Wanna show sympathy but they ain’t show no sympathy for me
Deep up in my thoughts sometimes that pain can turn to anger
They said these streets can come and change you
They come and change you
So let us change this
Let us change this

DONAVEN:
Dealing with the loss of language, a healing process is turning the page from
Youth struggling with addiction, drugs and booze causing affliction
Worrying about our health and well-being, because of the pain that I’ve been seeing
Just sitting here in silence, we have to connect with elders for guidance
I’m going to be a part of the change
We are the change


CHORUS:
Our wish is to Huba Whul’en the Ts’oodune-ya for the future generations
Our strength is in our Ts’oodune-ya, Our dreams are with ya - the future is yours
  

JOSHUA:
What am I here for to drop some knowledge
The pain in our past needs to be acknowledged
Things will get better and this I truly promise
This ain’t my first rodeo
I aint no novice
Cause life is a struggle but I’ll never give up
No matter how much I fall
I will always get up
We need to change now
I'm getting fed up
This nonsense needs to stop 
There’s a lot expected of us

BRODIE:
Hadih Le soozi’ Brodie
Oodzi ulhtus - strong heart - that’s what I lead with
Nilhts’i ulhtus - strong wind - that’s what I breathe with
Syughi - that’s what I see with - it’s our spirit

Connecting our youth back to our culture and land
No more addictions we take a stand
Look in a mirror now we understand
Our language needs a helping hand


BRETT:
I’ve been taking bigger steps to better shape our future
Building these foundations for the youth generation
Bettering our nation it all starts with creation
You are my inspiration you give me motivation 
This is my mission // my ammunition // my ambition
Our tradition
Our tradition 

JODI:
Our direction for the future of the next generation
Is the recovery of our tradition
Our purpose is to inspire the young
To reach for the sun 
Cause we know where you’ve been

GROUP CHORUS:
Our wish is to Huba Whul’en the Ts’oodune-ya for the future generations
Our strength is in our Ts’oodune-ya, Our dreams are with ya - the future is yours

FOR THE PEOPLE // Tl'azt'en, BC

"BANNOCK ELEVATION" was written by the grade nine youth of Constance Lake First Nation at Mamawmatawa Holistic Education Centre.

Thank you to Florrie Sutherland for sharing your drumming and singing, to Joyce Sutherland for teaching us how to make Bannock and to the teachers of Mamawmatawa Holistic Education Centre for supporting this project.

Lyrics written and recorded by: Terrance Dillon, Xzavion Ineese, Kayley Baxter-Wesley, Myles Shaganash, Aaron Sutherland, Jude Terry, Nigahnee Lefebvre, Lincoln Q, Ryan Wesley, & Saphira Payne.

Music produced and mixed by:
Cayden Carfrae & Thanya Iyer

Mastered by:
Jon Kaspy

LYRICS:

CHORUS
Its a hard life
But with family I'm feeling motivation
Got some bannock I'm feeling elevation
Been some hard nights I'm overthinking
Gotta make these changes 
Changes

TERRANCE:
Changes hittin my emotions 
thoughts flooding in like an ocean 
with the crew 
lost a few 
But I ain't hopeless

XZAVION:
Through these hard nights
I see my people in the struggle it ain't all right
We on the grind gettin money through this hard life

CHORUS

hard life
But with family I'm feeling motivation
Got some bannock I'm feeling elevation
Been some hard nights I'm overthinking
Gotta make these changes 
Changes

KAYLEY:
Ever since I was a little girl
I’ve been having a hard time with my life
Trauma flying over my head like its nothing
Thoughts going crazy like a hurricane

Giving in to a few of these thoughts
Sad that I got hooked up to a plant just to feel something
But we can still feel something even in a hurricane

MYLES:
It's a hard life
but I wanna feel love
makes me feel whole
someone pull me out of this hole 
I will feel love, I will feel love, you fill my soul

AARON:
Got me feeling Like I'm incapable 
Got some homies and they know me, 
we wanna live it up

JUDE:
Straight out of the bottle forget my cup
We made it barely I’m out of luck
But its been better 
been lookin up

I can’t say the same for some of my team
Some people give up on dreams
This just happens that you can’t really change
Thats how it be
I got my team
But ain’ t as big as it been
I lost a few friends
But you cannot break me
I wont bend
wait

CHORUS

It's a hard life
But with family I'm feeling motivation
Got some bannock I'm feeling elevation
Been some hard nights I'm overthinking
Gotta make these changes 
Changes

BANNOCK ELEVATION // CONSTANCE LAKE, ON

Alex Kasirer-Smibert - Upright Bass, Synths 
Daniel Gélinas - Drums, Synths 
Shaina Hayes - Vocals 
Simon Millerd - Trumpet 
Thanya Iyer - Vocals, Piano, Synths 

Lyrics + Music by Thanya Iyer 
Produced by Daniel Gélinas, Alex Kasirer-Smibert & Thanya Iyer 
Engineered, Mixed and Mastered by Daniel Gélinas 
@ Studio Chocolat Chaud Church, Ogden, QC, September 2015

********************************************************

Late at night I stay up counting cards until persuaded that I'll save 
Rolling round in circles in my head, my heart is heavy with the weight 
I can't wait not knowing when I'll finish writing this and hoping to brave be brave 

Maybe we'll come a little closer too the days where we can run up and down hills, and just be, forever and ever 
Maybe we'll grow a little closer holding hope that we'll wash away our inner rage and we’ll turn the tides of our seamless fate 

So we breathe deep, slow 
We keep it deep, low 
And we acknowledge the pain the loss the sadness so we lose it forever 

I know this 
I know my mind refuses to grow 
I know this 
I know my body takes the load 

Maybe we'll jump a little higher coming close to the days where we can run up and down hills and just be forever and ever 
Maybe we'll fight a little harder holding hope that well wash away our inner rage and well turn the tides of our seamless fate 

So we breathe deep and slow 
We keep it deep and low 
And we acknowledge the pain the loss the sadness so we lose it forever

Do You Dream

03 MindBody

In collaboration with AMF Studios https://www.amfstudiosnyc.com/

Aug 24/2020

AMFStudiosNYC FW2020

A mix by Devin Brahja Waldman for Free City Radio, Devin writes:

"Some music I’ve been listening to again and again, on repeat. Helps me put one foot in front of the other, one thought after the other."

Track listing:

01. Halim El Dabh and Ron Slabe - The Initiation
02. Daphne Oram - Pulse Persephone
03. Charanjit Singh - Ten Ragas To A Disco Beat
04. Suicide - Mr. Ray
05. Eddie Gale - The Coming Of Gwilu
06. Sun City Girls - Space Prophet Dogon
07. Eddie Gale - The Rain
08. Annette Peacock - I'm The One
09. Laurie Spiegel - Three Modal Pieces: 3. A Myth

Accompanying photo by Devin Brahja Waldman taken in Tlahuitoltepec.

Devin Brahja Waldman - free city radio mix

In the year MMXII, they began recording in a church with a moldy ceiling, a moldy basement, and of course a bedroom (occasional bathroom) made out of pews. “Do You Dream?” is an experiment of experimentation and songs coming together. Some might call it “songmentation”. Or even, if you look at it as experimentation + songs augmenting each other you might say “Saugmentation”.

03 MindBody

Thanya Iyer

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