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Cree Choir preparing for annual PAGC festival

Jan 10, 2018 | 7:00 AM

In a bid to strengthen the Cree language, a special choir has been practicing every noon hour at Senator Myles Venne School.

Librarian Edna Mirasty has led the Cree Choir program for more than 20 years at the Lac La Ronge Indian Band facility. It’s geared toward Grade 5 and 6 students, and regularly attended by between six and 12 members, she said. Currently, Mirasty said, the choir is learning to recite the Lord’s Prayer and a Cree adaptation of “Sweet Bye and Bye.”

 

“Right now, we’re practicing for the PAGC (Prince Albert Grand Council) Fine Arts Festival, which usually happens in April,” Mirasty said. “A week before the fine arts, we’ll have a jig-off, a sing-off and a little concert in the main gym for all the school to see.”

Mirasty expects the students will compete against 27 other PAGC schools, but noted the choir always seems to be a top contender at the event. She said preparing the students for it also takes a considerable amount of time, because they need to learn Cree words they are unfamiliar with.

“Some of the Cree words are so long, I have to break them up a little bit,” Mirasty said. “Then what we focus on is to try [and] pronounce the Cree words right.”

In the last 30 years, Mirasty believes there’s been a large drop in the number of people communicating in the Cree language. Just a few decades ago, she said many of the Lac La Ronge band school teachers could speak the language fluently and were encouraged to teach their lessons in Cree.

“Now, that’s just fading away,” Mirasty said. “I find that language is a big part of the school here, because we’re slowly losing it. It’s a good way for the kids to learn some of their language.”

During the Christmas season the choir also performed for many residents in the Lac La Ronge region. The choir performed for the local chief and council, Mirasty said, and their Cree carols were very well-received. 

 

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno