“This project is founded on courage, honour, unity and solidarity. Love and connection live here…”
About this project
Chorus of Courage is many things. It is a space created to hold and honour the voices and stories of survivors of violence (our storytellers). We came together as a group and became friends and allies - a supportive family. We created a home to explore some of the most difficult experiences one can imagine – a retreat - and we did it with love, music, silence, acceptance, guidance, connection, and movement, hand in hand. This project explores the entire spectrum of emotions that are felt through the unique experiences of the ones we are here to honour – our storytellers.
The stories shared and held at our retreat were given a voice and expression through our songwriters. These songs were captured, recorded, and then sent to our allies. Our allies echoed these songs and stories with another song, written in solidarity, creating a powerful musical conversation – a call and response through music and emotion that we look forward to sharing with you all – Chorus of Courage is a fluid conversation that holds the beauty and the horrors of lived experiences– it is an attempt to find some words and meaning, together, as a collective.
By sharing these songs of resilience and hope, we seek to inspire empathy, ignite conversations, and catalyze positive change. We aim to create a ripple effect that elevates awareness, breaks down barriers, and fosters a culture of respect and support. Together, we stand as a testament to the indomitable spirit of all voices and advocate for a world where voices are heard, honoured, and empowered.
“Together, we stand as a testament to the indomitable spirit of all voices and advocate for a world where voices are heard, honoured, and empowered.”
We wish to acknowledge that this project unfolded on stolen land.
These lands and waters have been home to Indigenous peoples since time immemorial, including the Cree, Oji-Cree, Haudenosaunee, Huron Wendat, Anishinaabeg, Metis, and Inuit peoples within the colonial boundary of Ontario, Canada. This vast region, adorned with lakes and rivers, is surrounded by substantial bodies of fresh and salt water.
The Chorus of Courage Project recognizes the profound impact of colonization, oppression, and various forms of violence on Indigenous peoples globally and across Turtle Island. Specifically, our project operated on Williams Treaty lands, near Katarokwi/Kingston, covered by Treaty 57, and unceded Algonquin territory. While historic agreements were intended to shape relationships and protect Indigenous cultures, it is the settler nation that has failed to honour these agreements.
Working within the sexual violence services sector and the arts community, our commitment lies in anti-violence, anti-oppression, decolonization, truth, reconciliation, and justice for murdered and missing Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and Indigiqueer people. We are acutely aware of the disproportionate rates of sexual violence faced by Indigenous peoples due to colonialism and white supremacy, impacting individuals regardless of gender. By reflecting on the statistics and recognizing our privilege as settlers, we hope to contribute to dismantling the systems perpetuating harm.
Moreover, we also recognize the devastating impacts of colonization on Indigenous African peoples, many of whom were forcibly brought to this territory as enslaved individuals by colonizers. We acknowledge the ongoing legacy of white supremacy and understand that it informs our collective responsibility to dismantle all forms of oppression and challenge the colonial power systems that sustain it. We underscore the importance of understanding the intersections of oppression. We honour survivors' intergenerational strengths, resiliency, and the wisdom of Knowledge Keepers, guiding our collaborative efforts. As we embark on this journey, we welcome the Eighth Fire, believing that if colonization has meant entitlement to lands and bodies, decolonization will usher in a consent culture.
Miigwetch - Nia-wen - Tansi - Marsi - Merci!
Thank you for caring for the land, the water, the air and all our relatives.