A group of Chilliwack students and Indigenous artists have come together to inspire environmental stewardship and reconciliation by way of a music video.
The song and video project titled 乌鸦传媒淪tep in the Right Direction乌鸦传媒� was released on May 22. Music students from Chilliwack, Sardis and G.W. Graham secondary schools collaborated with the Artist Response Team (ART), in partnership with 脡y St乌鸦传媒櫭﹍mexw St乌鸦传媒檈lt乌鸦传媒櫭璴茅m / Good Medicine Songs for the project.
The bilingual song 乌鸦传媒� in English and Halq乌鸦传媒檈m茅ylem 乌鸦传媒� highlights Indigenous language, climate action, and youth leadership through music.
It blends a brass band, teenage singers, electric guitar, piano, drums, plus First Nations music and dancing. There's a guitar solo and piano solo, plus a verbal introduction about collective action.
"Did you know that oil can be reused over and over again? Did you know that all tires collected in B.C. are recycled right here in the province? These seem like small steps, but when a lot of people make the same small changes, they add up to a big difference," Kevin Wright said at the beginning of the video. "The question is, what direction are we facing? What is that right direction?"
It was created by Holly Arntzen, x瘫o虂txwes Jonny Williams, and Kevin Wright, with Halq乌鸦传媒檈m茅ylem guidance from Elders Dr. Siyamiyateliyot and Siyamequot Viv Williams.
Throughout the 2024/2025 school year, band, choir and drumming students from the three high schools worked on the piece. The video was filmed at Shxwh谩:y Cultural Centre in November and officially released on May 22 at the 48th annual Chilliwack Indigenous Awards, organized by the Chilliwack School District's Indigenous Education Department.
乌鸦传媒淭he challenges we face today such as the climate crisis, toxic drug deaths, and homelessness, can feel immense and overwhelming,乌鸦传媒� Arntzen said. 乌鸦传媒淏ut when we take small, meaningful actions like learning and singing in Halq乌鸦传媒檈m茅ylem to honour Indigenous culture, or recycling used oil, antifreeze and tires to protect our environment, we begin to reclaim a sense of agency and shared purpose. This project is about showing that collective action, rooted in respect and awareness, can lead us toward real change and hope for the future.乌鸦传媒�
The three schools jumped at the opportunity to involve students in 乌鸦传媒淪tep in the Right Direction," said Bob Tarr, band director at Chilliwack Secondary School.
"As high school music specialists we are challenged to bring Indigenous content into our classes. There are a few pieces of music that are relevant, but you can乌鸦传媒檛 keep playing the same pieces over and over,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淎lso, it gave our three schools a rare chance to do something that brings our students and families together.乌鸦传媒�
Co-founder of GMS, x瘫o虂txwes Jonny Williams, said the youth are helping bring Halq乌鸦传媒檈m茅ylem to life.
"In doing so, they乌鸦传媒檙e also embracing a deeper sense of responsibility to care for the land, the water, and one another. Language carries our teachings, and through these songs, students are becoming stewards of both culture and the environment," he said.
Brenda Point, principal of Indigenous education with the Chilliwack School District said the project "beautifully weaves together" cultural expression, community spirit, and the importance of environmental stewardship.
"It乌鸦传媒檚 a meaningful and hopeful contribution to our ongoing journey of reconciliation.乌鸦传媒�
The project was made possible thanks to help from Tire Stewardship BC and Interchange Recycling.