Aboriginal Children Capture Courage in New Music Video: DAREarts and Indian Brook FN, Nova Scotia

INDIAN BROOK, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwired - June 6, 2013) - On Friday, June 7^th, 12:45 pm, you are invited to attend a special showcase and feast at L'nu Sipu'k Kina'matnuokuom (Indian Brook House of Learning) in Indian Brook FN, Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia.

This week, twenty-five Gr. 4, 5 & 6 students and teachers will be putting their song that they wrote with Mi'kmaq musician, Cathy Elliott, last year to another medium. With the help of Mi'kmaq videographer, Trina Roache, they will be filming and editing a new music video for "Melkikno'ti" which they will then showcase on Friday afternoon at LSK in a special Mawio'mi aq Wi'kêpaltmk (Feast Gathering) for the community.

Last year, the grades 4, 5 and 6 students voted unanimously to reach out to their friends, family and community to have courage. "Melkikno'ti" means courage and strength, and it embodies two of the 7 Sacred Teachings.

The 7 Teachings dovetail with the four principles of the DARE in DAREarts. Discipline, Action, Responsibility, and Excellence. Indian Brook First Nation, like most Aboriginal communities in Canada and the United States, is meeting its challenges head on. These challenges (poverty, high unemployment, unequal funding for education and health to name a few,) are not new. But there's a renewed resolve to make changes in their community. It's been an exhaustive process and children, the most vulnerable and fastest growing population has the greatest need.

Last year, Millbrook FN artist, Alan Syliboy, and his award winning band, Lone Cloud, accompanied the children as they showcased their new song. This year, as the children take their song one step further with their song video, with Trina Roache, they will be reminded once again of the kind of power they hold in their creativity and leadership abilities.

BACKGROUNDER:

DAREarts is a Canadian charity has been creating works of art with children and youth for 17 years across Canada, empowering more than 170,000 kids. DAREarts' 5-year program works with 9-14 year olds from schools in high-priority neighbourhoods, empowering them to become leaders. Visit www.darearts.com for more information about DAREarts. Visit http://www.darearts.wordpress.com for up-to-date sharing of their experiences.

The DAREarts First Roots (Nee-tum-ochi-bek) program had its start 6 years ago with a pilot program in northern fly-in only Webequie First Nation. The DAREarts Nee-tum-ochi-bek program was a response to a call for help from Webequie community leaders after a youth suicide. This suicide impacted the entire community and beyond. DAREarts First Roots has since worked with Aboriginal students and Elders in Vancouver, Marten Falls, Webequie, Attawapiskat, and Indian Brook. Requests from other communities keep coming in. The program is working. There has not been a youth suicide in Webequie since DAREarts was asked to join local efforts to heal and empower the youth through culturally sensitive, holistic methods.

DAREarts thanks its Educational Partner, L'nu Sipu'k Kina'matnuokuom, and its lead supporter: Northbridge Insurance.