Hanging of the Greens - The Oneida Nation of Wisconsin

www.kalihwisaks.com
Registration forms
can be downloaded
from
http://bit.ly/mocreg
and faxed or emailed
to ONAP, attention
Gabrielle.
For more information
contact
Gabrielle at ONAP,
(920) 490-3834
OFFICES
WILL BE
CLOSED
on the following
Days:
Friday (1/2 day)
Dec. 24, 2010
Monday (All day)
Dec. 27, 2010
In observance
of the…
Christmas
Holiday!
Singing is one way
to learn more about
native culture and
language. Some
Cherokee youth are
doing just that in the
Cherokee National Youth
Choir. This youth choir is
one of the few Native
American choirs that
goes on concert tours,
and sings in their native
language.
The Oneida Nation
Arts Program (ONAP) is
starting the “Music for
Oneida Children”
(MOC) choir with similar
goal in mind. The
MOC is an emerging
professional children’s
music group. It started in
2010 with a grant from
the Wisconsin Arts
Board. The first year was
extremely successful.
Beth Bashara, director
of ONAP said, "Singing
together is wonderful
way to learn more about
your culture, make
friends, and contribute to
the community. We hope
that in 30 years, this
group will have had hundred
of Oneida children
coming together, learning
and celebrating their
cultural music, while
also sharing Oneida's
rich musical traditions
around the world."
The next series of
MOC classes begins on
Saturday, January 8, with
two ensembles. One
ensemble will sing the
Oneida social dance
songs, and the other one
will sing hymns, spirituals,
and some popular
tunes.
In Oneida social dance
songs, children will learn
“earth dances” using the
water drum and cow horn
rattles. The instructor,
Kalana Brooks, started
learning Iroquois
singing at the age of
7. She has made many
visits to Canada to
continue to learn
songs. She has taught
at the Oneida tribal
schools for 15 years
and is active in the
traditional Longhouse
community.
Children will also
learn about Oneida
hymns and carols.
The instructor, Eden
Denny, is a graduate
of the Berkley
College of Music in
Boston, MA. She
worked with the
Music Lesson
Network, helping to
place music teachers
in community centers
and give affordable
lessons to the less fortunate.
Eden is grateful to
be back in Oneida with
December 16, 2010
Oneida Singing Preserves Language and Culture
Kali photos/Yvonne Kaquatosh
The sharing of sweet melodies to kickoff
the introduction of Hymn Singing for
the youth was held on Saturday,
December 4 and once again on
Saturday, December 11 at the Arts
Program Cottage.
her native people.
"Building a strong
community starts with
the children. So, when
we have Oneida children
attending 7 different
school districts and multiple
schools, it is important
to provide opportunities
for the children to
come together." Bashara
said.
The children make
new friends, learn
Oneida culture and language,
and have a lot
fun. In a few years,
MOC will be a professional
children’s choir
singing traditional
songs, hymns, pop tunes,
and new original music
inspired by Oneida culture
and language. They
may even become as
popular as the Cherokee
National Youth Choir.
Photo courtesy of ONAP