ELDERS, INDIGENOUS AND NON-INDIGENOUS ARTISTS, EDUCATORS AND YOUTH COME TOGETHER TO EXPLORE AND DISCUSS THE PROFOUND IMPACT COLONIZATION HAS HAD ON IDENTITY, FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY
First conceptualized in 2014 in collaboration with Grade 8 students at the Quinte Mohawk School on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in Ontario, the project challenges students to voice their perspectives on colonial history through song.
As youth reflect on challenging conversations, the Darkspark team guides them to express their feelings, ideas and responses to the issues through song-writing and digital storytelling. Their songs and videos are shared in community presentations, online, and through social media.
Four Directions elevates the voices and perspectives of Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth nationally, which contributes to an important cross-cultural conversation across Canada.
Four Directions songs, videos and community events inspire audiences to listen, learn, understand and actively invest in recovery and reconciliation.
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What People Say
“I am excited about (DARKSPARK) – the work that it does, and can’t speak highly enough about the calibre and integrity of its work.” – Jean-Paul Restoule, Professor & Chair of Indigenous Education – University Of Victoria
“I started thinking about how relieving and good it felt to sing in front of the microphone after keeping my voice to myself for so many years. By the end of it my confidence was boosted more than I ever thought possible.” – Four Directions Youth Participant | Comox Valley, BC