Chapter 1: Our Good Medicine Songs team at Imagine High

 

Our Good Medicine Songs team at Imagine High

(l-r) Xótxwes Jonny Williams, Kevin Wright, Holly Arntzen, Sulisulwut Bibiana Norris, and Dr. Siyamiyateliyot Elizabeth Phillips (not pictured.)

We introduced ourselves in an assembly in the Imagine High theatre in early April 2023. We gathered with students from the Stream Restoration and Rock Band programs. Our Spiritual Guide, Dr. Siyamiyateliyot Elizabeth Phillips was with us too. Her grandson, Xótxwes, explained to the students how she was the last person who was fluent in Halq'eméylem, the last person who grew up with the language as their mother tongue. The boisterous group of grade 10 students became silent and attentive. 

We sang Chowiyes-Xwithet/Rise Up-Wake Up and told its story of being inspired by the discovery of 215 unmarked graves in Kamloops. We sang St'et'il te Temexw Xwela ye Sqeltel/The Land is Lonesome for the Language. Jonny told of Siyamiyateliyot's loneliness to hear the language being spoken, as all the other fluent Elders have passed on and she can no longer talk with them.

At the end of the assembly, students were coming up to ask us questions. I felt we'd broken the ice and established relationships.