Music

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 any context. 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!

FAQ's

What would a visit 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 participate in an interactive time of music together in a smaller group size such as a classroom setting.

  2) Share my own music and personal story as an Anishinaabe person in a larger group setting such as a school assembly.

What ages are your visits best suited for?

• My visits are suitable for all ages. Depending on the age and ability of the participants I am happy to adjust things so everyone can participate comfortably!

What are the duration of your visits?

• Classroom visits are best experienced within one class period or over the lunch break hour. I am also happy to visit your classroom consistently over a number of weeks to build on what we have learned and spend time working on specific projects, such as songwriting.

• Larger group visits such as school assemblies are also best experienced over one class period or the school's typical allotted time for an assembly.

  
  

What information do you need before visiting?

• Before visiting I would love to connect to chat specifically about the relevant needs of the attendees so I can prepare a presentation/performance that can be enjoyed by everyone.

• For school visits I would like to connect with the music teachers to hear about what your students are currently learning in music class so we can focus on something relevant.

• If there are any specific materials required, we can discuss this as well prior to my visit.

"We are so grateful to Elsa for visiting Bel Ayr Elementary and sharing her deep knowledge of Anishinaabe culture with us. Through songwriting, dancing, and genuine connection, she invited our students into a creative and joyful learning experience. Elsa made songwriting feel easy, fun, and possible for everyone, and we are thankful for the way she inspired our school community!"

-Ralph Clarke, Music Teacher, Bel Ayr Elementary

If you are interested in a school visit, I would love to chat!
elsajaynemusic@gmail.com

Get in touch