Local musician Kym Gouchie is set to perform on Coldstream's virtual stage this Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m, bringing Indigenous, folk and roots sounds to the stage.
But Gouchie has more up her sleeve than just this concert — she has been working on a new album that incorporates three traditional Indigenous languages into the music. Funded by the Canada Council of the Arts, the children's album aims to teach basic words from Cree, Lheidli T'enneh, and Secwépemc dialects to help build a community of indigenous language speakers. As both musician and Indigenous elder-in-training, Gouchie knows the value of knowledge, connection and reclamation.
Listen below to CFUR's interview with Gouchie as she talks of her indigenous roots, the power of connection, and the importance of language. Snachailya (thank you) to Gouchie for taking the time to chat with CFUR and for teaching the community a few new words.
To learn more about Gouchie and her work visit her website, and take a look at one of CFUR's other articles that features some of her work in the community here.
Coldstream is running all week and is free to watch online. Head to the website for more information.
To learn more about Indigenous language preservation, check out the following links: