Adrian Sutherland has partnered with the Coalition for Music Education for their 2025 Ancestors Voices program, which inspires students nationwide with Indigenous music and storytelling.
This curriculum-based initiative designed for classrooms across Canada, uses music to inspire dialogue about truth, reconciliation, and cultural understanding. This year, students from coast to coast will learn through Sutherland’s all-Cree song Kiyash, exploring the power of music as storytelling.
“I’m proud to have been chosen to share my all-Cree song Kiyash with thousands of students and educators across the country, who are using music as a tool for learning,” said Sutherland. “As a musician from Attawapiskat, I believe music carries our stories, our language, and our spirit. I hope this song inspires young people to learn and to walk together in love and respect.”
ABOUT KIYASH
Kiyash is Sutherland’s second all-Cree song, featured on his second solo album, Precious Diamonds, and it holds a deep personal meaning. It is about our connection to the land and ancestors who walked before us. It reminds us that while the earth remains constant, our time here is fleeting. It speaks to moving forward from the past, embracing our histories, and building a brighter future together.
ABOUT ANCESTORS VOICES
Launched in 2021 to honour the children who never returned home, the survivors, and all others affected by residential schools, Ancestors Voices connects educators and students with Indigenous voices each year. The curriculum includes lesson plans and activities that share the history of residential schools, highlight the significance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and demonstrate how music is a vital tool for storytelling and healing in Indigenous cultures.
“Ancestors Voices uses music as a bridge to foster empathy, cultural understanding, and dialogue about truth and reconciliation,” says Stacey Sinclair, Executive Director of the Coalition for Music Education. “Our vision is to honour Indigenous voices and knowledge keepers through music and storytelling, while inspiring the next generation with messages of healing, hope, and unity.”
In 2024, the program reached over 400 classrooms and more than 83,000 students from Kindergarten through Grade 12, with participation from every province and territory. Julian Taylor and his song S.E.E.D.S was featured in 2024. Now, with Sutherland’s Kiyash, the program continues to grow its reach and impact.
ABOUT COALITION FOR MUSIC EDUCATION
The Coalition for Music Education in Canada is a national organization dedicated to raising awareness and promoting the value of music in schools and communities. By supporting initiatives like Ancestors Voices, the Coalition works to ensure accessible, inclusive, and high-quality music education for all students.
Listen to Kiyash (Before) here.