Elsa Jayne
About
Elsa Jayne
is an Anishinaabe singer-songwriter who lives Halifax/Kjipuktuk. A multi-instrumentalist and dynamic vocalist, her songs range from folk ballads to dreamy synth-led anthems.
A proud member of Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, Elsa grew up off-reserve in Southern Ontario, performing in the Waterloo Region and across Canada. Elsa uses her art to discover the Anishinaabemowin language of her people, often inserting simple words into her songs as a way of preserving the language and spreading literacy. Inspiration and a love for the East Coast, led Elsa and her family to settle in Halifax/ Kjipuktuk where they enjoy the beauty of the day-to-day and are grateful to live on the ancestral and traditional lands of the Mi’kmaq people.
Her most recent album, All My Relations, was released October 2018 right before her first child was born. This full-length album encapsulates the feelings of becoming a new mother, the pain of miscarriage, the joy of love, and the resilience of Indigenous people. The weight of these songs is offset by Elsa’s lilting melodies and creative songwriting sensibility.
Elsa is currently in a band called Moonii and is an active part of the music community in Kjipuktuk (Halifax).
Enriching lives through
Music & Indigenous teachings
Aaniin / Hello!
My name is Elsa and I am an Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) singer-songwriter and member of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. I grew up off-reserve in Southern Ontario and now live in Kjipuktuk (Halifax).
I have released six albums and am grateful to have performed across Turtle Island. Spending time with students is such a gift. We all learn from each other! I would love the chance to visit your class and share my music and teachings with your students.
Anishinaabe Teachings
The interconnectedness between all living things is at the core of what I share in the classroom. It is important to me to take time and teach about our active part in living in relationship with the land, and how that also extends to caring for ourselves and each other.
Mino-Bimaadiziwin in Anishinaabemowin means “A Good Life” and this is what we strive for as Anishinaabe. I use examples from the land and from the Anishinaabemowin language to bring this concept to life.
Indigenous people are here today, and not a thing of the past.
The teachings that I impart with the students are made applicable to their own lives through conversation and creative activities. We learn in a variety of ways and this is practiced from sharing our experiences conversationally in a circle, to going for a sensory nature walk, or drawing what we have learned.
Music Integration
Whether we are repeating each other’s rhythms or writing a song together about trees, music is the joy that brings it all together. When students can create something and see the significance of their work, it is very empowering.
Songwriting is a wonderful tool for bringing many teaching components together using fun and creative prompts. I like to do this with the students especially after sharing traditional teachings. We parse through what we have learned and create something special together.
Performing songs that I have written, and inviting the students to participate has also been very enriching. In everything I do, I like to present music as something very fluid and wonderfully imperfect. Playfulness is key at every stage in life!
If you are interested in a school visit, I would love to chat!
elsajaynemusic@gmail.com
FAQ's
What would a visit to our classroom look like?
My visits are an open-ended and creative time, but generally there are two options:
1) Share Anishinaabe teachings along with my own personal experience, and then write a song together, or 2) Share teachings, etc, learn an existing song, and perform the song all together.
What grades are your visits best suited for?
My visits are best suited for grades Pre Primary-Grade 6.
What are the duration of your visits?
I am happy to visit your classroom consistently over a number of weeks and build on what we have learned and spend time working on our our projects. I am also happy to make solo visits!
What information do you need before visiting?
Before my visits I would love to connect with the music teachers specifically and hear about what your students are currently learning in music class so we can focus on something relevant.
I would also like to be in touch about any special needs in the class and how I can best accommodate everyone.
If there are any specific materials required, we can discuss this as well prior to my visit.
Get in touch
