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 painful reality that residential schools caused many Indigenous children and their communities. The heaviness of these songs is offset by Elsa’s whimsical songwriting sensibility that comes across through lilting melodies and interesting synth and drum sounds. Her disarming voice is often compared to that of Sarah McLaughlin, Dolores O'Riordan and Alanis Morissette.
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 share 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.
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. I like to present music as something very fluid and 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
Get in touch
