Jejune would like to re-introduce you to Nadine Gagne, an award-winning Indigenous children's musician entertainer, child advocate, and mother out of British Columbia. With the children from the Star Nation Collective, she just released an enchanting and powerful new song ‘Creators Choir’. Released on September 30th - Orange Shirt day, where communities come together in a spirit of reconciliation and hope because every child matters. Please read on to find out more about Nadine’s work and learn more about this heart-wrenching story.

Where are you based?

I am grateful to live on the unceded, ancestral and traditional territories of the Westbank First Nations (Okanagan/Syilx Nation) in Westbank, British Columbia, Canada.

What inspired you to get into music?

When I began working in the Indigenous early childhood field approximately 25 years ago, there was very few contemporary Indigenous children’s songs and music available. I remain today as one of a handful of Indigenous artists in British Columbia and Canada, whose focus is creating Indigenous children’s music. I continue to produce music for children and families because music has a way of bringing people together. Now during a time of reconciliation with Indigenous people, it has been important for myself and the Star Nation Collective to share our messages with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people through the music we create.

We featured some of your music in the past, but you have come out with a powerful new song with Star Nation Collective called ‘Creators Choir’. This song is about the horrible stories of indigenous children being murdered in Residential Schools. How hard was this song to write?

This new song was written by my music producer - Joey Stylez of Ble$$ed Street Studios in Haida Gwaii, BC. As we are both Indigenous, and parents of young children, it was extremely hard for us to write and record this song and video together. Also because the Star Nation Collective were part of the music and video recording; it was a painful and hard process for myself and the children and families involved in its creation. It took me months to be able to go into the studio to record my vocals as I have never recorded a song about such a heavy and important topic such as the loss of thousands of Indigenous children who attended residential schools in Canada.

Can you tell us a bit about the process and why it was important for you to get out there?

As potentially thousands of unmarked graves of children are being discovered on residential school grounds across Canada, it was important for us to create a song and video to honour the Indigenous children that were lost; and the Indigenous families and communities that are still affected to this day. There are many people that still do not believe that the many atrocities happened in residential schools to Indigenous children. Now more than ever, more people need to learn about the dark history of the residential schools and understand how we can each do our part regarding reconciliation with Indigenous people.

The music video and the song include the children from the Star Nation Collective. Seeing these beautiful children in such a heartbreaking song is very powerful. Can you talk a little bit about including them?

It was very difficult to have the children be a part of the song recording and music video due to the tragic topic and nature of what we sing about in“Creator”s Choir.” The idea of the song is that the Indigenous children that were lost in the residential schools are now up in heaven singing as part of “Creator’s Choir.” The Star Nation children attended vocal lessons and were part of in studio vocal recordings and all parts of the music video recording.

Did they understand the importance of the song?

Yes all the children understood the significance of the song and why they were singing and recording the song. It was important that the children were the ones that were bringing forward the messages in this song to honour the children that were lost. The song and video are very sad but also I feel hopeful because it shows the children strong, free and together.

Can you tell us a bit about the Star Nation Collective?

The Star Nation Collective formed approximately two years ago in 2020. The 14 children in the group are both Indigenous (Syilx, Metis, Dene, Cree) and non-Indigenous children aged 2-13 years. The children represent unity and bring messages of reconciliation. “Creator’s Choir” is the collectives second song and music video. The Star Nation Collective hope to produce four new songs and another music video in 2023.

Can you speak a little bit about Residential Schools and what happened in them? Why should more people know this history?

Many horrible atrocities happened within residential schools from the late 1800’s until the last one closed in 1996. Thousands of Indigenous children were taken from their families and placed in these schools. The children experienced many forms of abuse (physical, mental/emotional, sexual), as well as malnutrition and neglect. Many people do not believe that these things have happened or do not know how this horrible past still impacts Indigenous families, communities and nations today.

Canada tries to give the impression that they treated the indigenous better than the US. What are your thoughts on this?

I would not want to compare if the US or Canada treated Indigenous people better. There were many horrible things done throughout North America to Indigenous people for hundreds of years — with no other goal but to destroy Indigenous Nations, communities and families so that the settlers could prosper from their land and resources.

You released this song on September 30, 2022, orange shirt day, can you tell us more about why it was important to have this release date?

September 30th — Orange Shirt day is a National holiday to honour the Indigenous children that attended residential school and the children that never made it home. As our song was written and created for those children and families, it was important we released our video and song on that day. We are grateful to have shared it on November 30th 2022 at the BC Aboriginal Childcare Society Conference of 500 participants after the Honourable Minister Katrina Chen spoke. My nine year old son who performed along-side the video received a standing ovation from the crowd. We hope this song brings healing to the communities and families that are affected by the tragedies and history of the residential school system.

What would you like more people to know about indigenous history and present?

That our Nations and families are still continuing to heal from our past. Many people do not believe that these are actual graves being found at Residential schools across Canada. I would encourage people to educate themselves on what has happened in these schools to Indigenous children so that communities can begin to heal from our dark past collectively, together in the spirit of reconciliation.

How can more people be supportive?

Educate and share with others what you know about the residential schools and reach out to your local Indigenous community or Nation to see how you can learn more and/or get involved. Learn and know what traditional Indigenous lands that you reside on and acknowledge and honour the traditional territory in which you reside on.

You work in Indigenous Early Childhood Development programs in British Columbia, has the release of your music helped raise awareness for the Indigenous communities?

My music has always been linked to my work within Indigenous Early Childhood. As mentioned earlier, it is my hope that more Indigenous artists and professionals will create more music and cultural resources for young children in BC and Canada.

The pandemic changed the way we communicate, care for others, educate our children, work, and more. How has life changed for you after navigating through those tough times? How have you stayed positive?

I have had a difficult time through the pandemic becoming a single mother to my two older children and now 2.5 year old. He was born right at the start of the pandemic. I have used this time to focus on being a full-time mother to my 3 children and to continue creating Indigenous children’s music. The Star Nation Collective have released two songs and music videos in the last two years thanks to funding from First Peoples Cultural Council of BC.

What is your motto in life?

Our children are our future.

To learn more about Nadine, please follow her via the platforms below:

Facebook: Nadine Gagne

Instagram: nadinegagne66

Click Here to Watch the “All Nations” Music Video

Photography and Video by Kalani Aka