October 6, 2020 (Ottawa, ON) – The LHF has entered into a partnership with Music in the Barns (MitB) in a visionary project that aims to create a digital musical instrument for remote learning and composing. With the support of the Canada Council of the Arts’ Digital Strategies Fund, MitB and LHF are reaching out and building partnerships with Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals and communities across Canada towards the creation of a storybook card series and new, inclusive methodologies for making music.

LHF is calling out to Indigenous teachers and communities to engage in this project with their students so that First Nation, Inuit, and Métis voices are included. We are hoping that educators can work with their classes or groups in beginning a collaborative dialogue for the first phase of the project – a fun, story sharing activity designed to gather some of their thoughts, ideas, and feelings about music and the impact that it has on their lives.

Participants will receive an introductory package that will elicit creative responses that can be submitted in a variety of formats: a story, a poem, TikTok video, postcard, illustration, song or audio recording, edited or raw video or social-media post, meme or still image, slide show, etc. … we hope participants will go where their heart takes them!

The responses and stories gathered will be used to inform the design of a storybook card game that will illustrated by artists from across Canada. We will be gifting participant groups with a set of illustrated story cards and an opportunity to participate in phase two of the project –the virtual instrument design phase. This is a unique opportunity for Indigenous youth to contribute their ideas to the future of music making. Especially when it comes to classical music, Indigenous voices are often left out, this project is inclusive and will bring together Indigenous and non-Indigenous voices to shape the future of music and music education. This also allows for building better relationships and collaboration, which is Reconciliation in action.”

The LHF Executive Director and In-house Legal Counsel, Teresa Edwards said, “The LHF is an Indigenous-led not-for-profit, charitable Foundation that has the mandate is to educate Canadians by raising awareness and understanding of the impacts of Residential and Day Schools on Indigenous Survivors and their families and communities through the ongoing development and implementation of Curricula and Educational Resources that depicts the true history in Canada; to loan out the 19 Exhibitions about the history Indigenous Peoples and the injustices that occurred to businesses, governments, schools, galleries etc. and to support the ongoing healing process of Residential School Survivors and their families all towards building just and respectful relationships and Reconciliation among Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Peoples in Canada today.

For media inquiries:
Teresa Edwards, B.A. JD.
Executive Director and In-House Legal Counsel
Legacy of Hope Foundation
Phone:  613-237-4806 Ext. 303 info@legacyofhope.ca