Hundreds gather for Xa Xa Témexw Swáyel / Sacred Earth Day bilingual concert connecting Indigenous language, culture and environmental stewardship

Students from Barrowtown, Ten-Broeck and Dormick Park elementary schools performed
bilingual songs in Halq’eméylem — the upriver dialect of the Stó:lō First Nations — and
English, inspired by the idea that “every day is Earth Day.”

Hundreds of Abbotsford students gathered at the
Matsqui Centennial Auditorium on Tuesday, June 9, for the Xa Xa Témexw Swáyel / Sacred
Earth Day concert, featuring songs and storytelling about watershed protection, land
stewardship and environmental action.

The concert featured a choir made up of students from Barrowtown, Ten-Broeck and Dormick
Park elementary schools performing alongside members of Éy St’élmexw St’elt’ílém / Good
Medicine Songs (GMS) and The Wilds Band. Students, teachers, community members, and city representatives from across the district joined together in a powerful shared cultural learning experience.

Led by the Artist Response Team (ART) and Ey Stélmexw St’elt’ílem/Good Medicine Songs
(GMS), in partnership with the Indigenous Education Department of Abbotsford School
District, the City of Abbotsford’s Culture City Program Series, and with support from
Interchange Recycling and Tire Stewardship BC (TSBC), the initiative uses music and
storytelling to help young people connect Indigenous language and cultural teachings with the
everyday actions —such as recycling, reuse and reducing waste — that help protect local lands and waterways.

Throughout the program, students explored how these everyday actions can support
healthier communities. By connecting these ideas with Indigenous language, music and
storytelling, the initiative helps make environmental stewardship tangible and relevant for
young learners.

In the weeks leading up to the performance, students learned and practiced bilingual songs in
Halq’eméylem and English, using audio glossaries to build pronunciation skills and stories to
deepen their understanding of Stó:lō teachings and ecological stewardship.

“It is exciting to see the kids connecting with these songs,” said SD 34 (Abbotsford) Indigenous
Support Worker, Tl’ pak te luk Les Joe, from Tzeachten First Nation in Chilliwack. “I hear them humming or singing the songs outside or in the hallways. It is really amazing to witness and be a part of them learning some of the language and learning how to protect and keep Mother Earth safe. They were so excited to participate, and I’m grateful for this opportunity.”

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our Barrowtown students to get to collaborate with
Abbotsford students from other schools, to share their voices in a concert at the MCA, with
professional musicians and Good Medicine Songs. It really puts our children in a leadership
role for reconciliation and being good stewards of the land and waters.” Said Barrowtown
Principal, Michelle Basran.

“Our songs are inspired by teachings. These children aren’t just learning Halq’eméylem,
they’re learning Indigenous history. Good Medicine Songs are carrying and passing down
knowledge from our Ancestors and our Elders.” Said Xótxwes Jonny Williams, a language and cultural keeper, and co-founder of GMS. “Everyone receives the learning through the kids. By celebrating children’s learning in the concert, the whole community learns.”

“This ecology of partnerships amongst First Nations, teachers, schools, the school district,
the City and stewardship organizations supports children to step out on stage with GMS and
the band, and sing out for the Earth and reconciliation and eco-action,” said Holly Arntzen,
musician-producer at ART. “Sacred Earth Day amplifies the wave of language revitalization
going on in S’olh Témexw – Stó:lō territory. These young singers are calling to our
community to be pro-active and conserve, restore and protect nature…for their future.”

“Interchange Recycling and Tire Stewardship BC (TSBC) are proud to support the Sacred Earth Day concert,” said David Lawes, CEO, Interchange Recycling, and Rosemary Sutton, Executive Director, TSBC, in a joint statement. “We have collectively worked with ART for the past decade, and we have seen firsthand how music and storytelling can unite people. As
environmental stewardship organizations, Interchange and TSBC continue to look for
meaningful ways to connect with British Columbians and inform them on the importance of
recycling used oil and antifreeze (Interchange) and tires (TSBC) to protect our land and
waterways.”

“As the cultural and economic hub of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford is strengthened by the
many cultures, backgrounds and voices that make up our community,” said Ross Siemens,
Mayor of Abbotsford. “The Sacred Earth Day project is a wonderful opportunity to bring
community members, especially school children, together through song, an appreciation of
Stó:lō language and culture, and a shared commitment to caring for this beautiful place we are
fortunate to call home.”

To learn more about our youth engagement program, please visit this page