On April 23, 2026 the stage at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre was filled with the K-5 students from McCammon Elementary, performing with Good Medicine Songs and band. This concert was a reprise of the original event that was mounted on March 12, 2020. On that day, we had completed the mid-day Dress Rehearsal, only to be told that the evening concert had to be cancelled because of COVID restrictions. The teachers and students had practised songs since fall 2019. They had invested so much energy and preparation into the concert, it was devastating to have it cancelled.

 

The desire to complete that project lived on in the heart of the school community over the next five years. In fall 2025 teachers and students started practising songs again. New additions to the GMS song lexicon were included. Shxwelístexw te Sqwá:la/Caring for Hope Slough celebrates the work being done to restore salmon habitat in the neighbourhood where these children live. Chowiyes-Xwithet/Rise Up-Wake Up! pays tribute to the spirit of children who never came home from residential school. St’et’il te Témexw Xwela ye Sqweltel/The Land is Lonesome for the Language calls out to each and every one of us to help the land feel less lonely.

 

We are so proud to be part of this historic concert, proud of the children and their singing in the language and performing. We are grateful to the teachers for all their hard work and the funding partners who made the school program, concert and video possible.

 

We raise our hands in thanks to our Elder, Dr. Síyamiyatelíyót Elizabeth Phillips, for her loving guidance and leadership of Good Medicine Songs; to her daughter and son-in-law Viv Williams and Steve Williams who attended the concert in her place; to the memory of the late Dr. Stelomethet Ethel Gardner, who co-founded GMS back in 2018; and to our Elder Dr. Lolehawk Laura Buker who fills her place with unstinting effort and uplift.

 

Yalh yekw kw’ás hó:y – thank you for all that you do.