The Coalition for Music Education Spotlights First Nations Artist Adrian Sutherland
September 22, 2025
In a powerful example of how music can fuel cultural education and healing, the Coalition for Music Education is partnering with Cree artist Adrian Sutherland for the 2025 edition of Ancestors Voices: Music and Learning for National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, a national program teaching students about truth, reconciliation, and Indigenous storytelling through song.
At the heart of this year’s initiative is Kiyash, an all-Cree track written and performed by Sutherland, from his recent album Precious Diamonds. The song—steeped in language, tradition, and resilience—is being shared with classrooms across Canada, offering students a unique entry point into Indigenous culture and the legacy of residential schools.
“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,” says 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.”
Photo Credit: Nadya Kwandibens
Launched to honour the children who never returned home, the survivors, and all others whose lives were impacted by residential schools, Ancestors Voices brings Indigenous artists and their songs into Canadian classrooms each year. Through curriculum-linked lesson plans and activities, the program teaches students about the history of residential schools and the importance of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, demonstrates how music serves as a vital tool for storytelling and healing in Indigenous cultures, and shines a spotlight on Indigenous artists and their work.
Since its launch, the initiative has steadily grown in scope. In 2024 alone, it reached over 83,000 students in more than 400 classrooms, from kindergarten to grade 12, spanning every province and territory.
A National Platform for Indigenous Artists
Each year, Ancestors Voices highlights the work of a new Indigenous musician. In 2024, the spotlight was on Julian Taylor and his song S.E.E.D.S. This year, Sutherland takes the stage, bringing with him the depth of lived experience as one of the few professional musicians living full-time in a fly-in First Nation community.
With a genre-blending sound that pulls from roots, rock, folk, and blues, Sutherland’s music is both deeply personal and profoundly political—grounded in land, language, and lived experience.
“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.”
Music as Medicine
The Ancestors Voices program isn’t just about music appreciation—it’s about creating space for meaningful dialogue. Teachers receive educational resources created with Indigenous Educators, helping them guide students through Canada’s history with residential schools, while celebrating the vibrancy and resilience of Indigenous cultures today.
And the goal isn’t short-term impact.
The Coalition is actively working to build a growing library of Indigenous music resources, collaborating each year with new artists to create lasting tools for educators. The hope is that students come away not just with knowledge—but with a deeper respect for Indigenous voices and a commitment to reconciliation.
Where to Learn More
Students, educators, and anyone interested in the initiative can explore Kiyash and the broader Ancestors Voices program through the Coalition’s website at www.coalitioncanada.ca, or visit Adrian Sutherland’s official site at www.adriansutherlandmusic.com.
About Adrian Sutherland
Adrian Sutherland is a roots-rock musician from Attawapiskat First Nation on James Bay. Blending folk, blues, and Indigenous storytelling, his music reflects the challenges and beauty of life in Northern Canada. A longtime advocate for his community, Sutherland is committed to using music as a force for truth, healing, and change.
About the Coalition for Music Education
The Coalition for Music Education is a national charitable organization that inspires students and educators through innovative music education programs, alongside bold advocacy initiatives to strengthen music education in Canada. Through programs like Ancestors Voices, the Coalition champions the role of music in fostering cultural understanding.
Follow Adrian Sutherland:
Instagram / Threads / Facebook: @attaboyadrian
Follow the Coalition for Music Education:
Instagram / Threads: @CoalitionCanada.ca
X (Twitter): @coalitioncanada
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoalitionCanadaCA
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