Decolonizing My Creative Process: Embracing Indigeneity

This World Music Lecture Series is part of the project “Crossing Border, Removing Barriers and Decolonising Our History,” funded by the 2022 “150 Time Immemorial Grant Program” and administered by the First Peoples’ Cultural Foundation and Heritage BC. It is co-organized by the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Classical Garden and the UBC School of Music.  The purpose of this series is to introduce world music to high school students and their teachers in British Columbia, as world music is currently underestimated in K-12 music curriculum. The purpose is to use the Garden as a cultural space to expand the traditionally taught narratives of history, music, and social studies in B.C. Through understanding world music, this project fosters British Columbia’s cultural diversity.A preview to this lecture series will take place at the Garden on October 16. The three lecturers—Nathan Bernacki (PhD Ethnomusicology student at UBC), Michael Tenzer (Professor of Ethnomusicology at UBC), and Aram Bajakian (PhD Ethnomusicology student at UBC)—will offer brief introductions to music and dance in Bulgaria, the synergies of Balinese music and dance, and music of West Asia. These lecturers and their friends will return to the Garden and present an hour-long lecture on Nov 5, 19, and 26, respectively.

UBC School of Music

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

Like many Métis who were adopted out during the Sixties Scoop, I grew up passing as white. I was also thoroughly colonized during my education, especially in my musical training. The Western European classical tradition is fundamentally hierarchical, with considerable power differentials between producing organizations, performers and composers. This presentation will cover a number of musical works that explore my Indigenous heritage and my efforts to decolonize my own creative practice. Works discussed will include Inuit Games for katajjak singers and orchestra, Snewíyalh tl’a Stakw (Teachings of the Water) for women’s choir and Métis Songs, for voice and string quartet. These all seek to celebrate various Indigenous traditions in the context of the need for Truth and Reconciliation.

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Decolonizing My Creative Process: Embracing Indigeneity

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Decolonizing My Creative Process: Embracing Indigeneity

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