Canada’s national orchestra is set to perform in Eskasoni First Nation, where Mi’kmaw artist Emma Stevens will be showcasing her original music. Stevens, known for her viral Mi’kmaw-language rendition of the Beatles’ “Blackbird,” emphasizes the importance of showcasing Mi’kmaw culture and language. Her collaboration with the National Arts Centre Orchestra highlights her efforts to raise awareness about Indigenous issues such as language preservation and missing and murdered Indigenous women.
Stevens, who has been actively reconnecting with her Mi’kmaw roots, expressed pride in writing her first song in Mi’kmaw. Despite facing challenges in maintaining fluency due to the dominance of English in her education, she sees music as a powerful tool to preserve and promote her language. Alongside her performance of “Blackbird,” Stevens will also present “The Ballad of Shubenacadie,” a song addressing the legacy of the Canadian residential school system.
The orchestra’s tour will also feature Jeremy Dutcher, a Wolastoqiyik artist and two-time Polaris Music Prize winner. Dutcher’s mentor, elder Maggie Paul, inspired him to showcase traditional Indigenous music with symphonic accompaniment. Dutcher and Stevens both aim to celebrate Indigenous music, language, and resilience through their performances with the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
