DAREarts 'Igniting Change' in Winnipeg School

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwired - Jan. 20, 2015) -

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Upon invitation from Southeast Collegiate in Winnipeg, DAREarts led an innovative and energy-filled two-day songwriting camp with a special group of high school students last Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Mentored by Mi'kmaq composer and DAREarts First Roots Program Associate, Cathy Elliott, the youths wrote the lyrics and song which explored life from their own worldview. The results were explosive.

Cathy Elliott says, "I'm so happy to be visiting my Oji-cree, Ojibwe and Cree cousins in Manitoba and hearing what the youth in Southeast Collegiate are thinking, feeling and planning for their futures."

DAREarts Founder, Marilyn Field is delighted that DAREarts is setting down roots now in Manitoba. "After 19 years gradually spreading across Canada, DAREarts is ecstatic to be launching a brand new program in Winnipeg. From the first moments with these eight young people, we could already see that there is so much potential for greatness in the youth of this city." The young song-writers are: Renee Harper, Marcia McKay, Charnel Yellowback, Roger Keno, Jonas C. Yellowback, Collin Clarke, Angela Linklater and Angel Flett.

The Southeast Collegiate students from fly-in communities across Manitoba, live and learn together in the school, but don't always socialize together. They hang out in their own groups, tending to socialize with kids from their own communities. In this DAREarts project, they collaborated on a song that explored the challenges of being away from home for so long.

Karina Walker, Southeast Collegiate Recreation Coordinator, says "I'm excited to see our students from all different communities work together to create something meaningful to them. These students are all so creative, and in different ways. This structured workshop can help incorporate all their talents; lyric writing, instrument playing and performing as well."

"The commonalities drew them together," says Elliott. "Finding a way around depression, lack of privacy, homesickness and insomnia by getting out of bed and facing a new day is clearly defined in their song, 'Volcano.' Now they have something brand new to be proud of as a group." Since 2007, Elliott and DAREarts have been mentoring FNMI youth to develop both song writing and song videography skills. "Melkikno'ti," was featured on NationTalk.

DAREarts is a Canadian charity which stands for "Discipline, Action, Respect, Responsibility and Excellence in Education". 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. DAREarts First Roots program works with Elders, artists, schools and children in FNMI communities. Using the arts, DAREarts empowers children and youth to ignite change within themselves and become leaders.

DAREarts thanks its lead supporters: Northbridge Insurance, Guy Carpenter, Scotiabank, Ontario Arts Council and Ontario Trillium Foundation, with local Winnipeg support from Federated Insurance.

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