Learn how to sing ‘Nikamo’ in Cree by Burnstick
More than 70 indigenous languages are spoken in Canada, according to the 2016 census. However, according to UNESCO’s criteria for endangered languages, more than two-thirds of these languages are classified as endangered.
CBC Music’s Canadian Music Class Challenge continues our annual initiative to address this issue by encouraging music classes across the country to learn Indigenous languages through music.
This year, students are encouraged to study and record a video of themselves performing the beautiful Cree song “Nikamo” by Burnstick, a Manitoba couple consisting of Plains Cree guitarist and vocalist Jason Burnstick and the francophone Métis singer, perform -songwriter Nadia Gaudet.
The cool thing about the Cree language is that it’s very poetic.-Jason Burnstick
“‘Nikamo’ means to sing, to sing out,” Burnstick explains. “This song is about celebrating our mom and dad and telling them we’re here and we love them. It’s really about saying thank you for everything they’ve given you.”
Burnstick spoke some Cree as a child, but his language was lost after he was arrested by Manitoba’s Children and Family Services. Now, as an adult, he is relearning Cree and using its language in songs.
“I still have a long way to go, but I’m definitely walking the path there,” Burnstick said Unreservedly Hostess Rosanna Deerchild. “The cool thing about the Cree language is that it’s very poetic.”
In a special instructional video filmed at the Portage La Prairie Regional Library, Burnstick and Gaudet perform the song and practice Cree pronunciation, aided by phonetic subtitles. Watch the video below.
Please see below for printable sheet music and lyrics.
“Nikamo” is one of more than 20 songs in this year’s Canadian Music Class Challenge. The annual event invites music classes in public schools, community programs and private schools to learn and record a performance of one of the Canadian songs on the list. Submissions are then submitted to CBC Music and released publicly for everyone to enjoy. The Canadian Music Class Challenge, presented in partnership with MusiCounts, the music education arm of the Juno Awards, has given away hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of musical instrument prizes to classes across the country.
One of this year’s awards goes to the best performance of “Nikamo”. Read more about our full list of awards here. Please email us at [email protected] for a copy of the lyrics and sheet music.
If your music class or classes are performing “Nikamo” by Burnstick, consider enrolling in age-appropriate Categories 1-8 or Community/Private School Category 9. However, all submissions of this song also qualify for the Indigenous Language Prize.
To find out how you can participate in this year’s Canadian Music Class Challenge, you can read more here or subscribe to our music teacher newsletter below.
This project was funded in part by the Library Partnership Program.
