Community Singing in the Cariboo
We S!NG is built on the Ubuntu principle of interconnection. We gather not just to make music, but to experience the profound truth that we exist in relationship with one another. Singing together is an act of connection—to ourselves, to each other and to something larger than any individual.
(The quote opposite is from A Cup of Sun
by Joan Walsh Anglund.)
We S!NG is facilitated by Demian Pettman and part of the UBUNTU Choir Network, a "growing community of choirs who believe that the joy of singing is a universal birthright, and that together, regardless of musical background, we can help improve the world by joining voices in song."
Link to the Ubuntu Choir Network: www.ubuntuchoirs.net
Our voices hold the key to our own healing.
When we sing, we're not just making sound—we're accessing something deep within ourselves. This requires gentleness, patience and respect. We don't aggressively pursue "the right notes." The notes will come through listening, through repetition, through trust in the process and in our own bodies.
Listening as Practice: We learn to hear ourselves in relation to others.
True harmony requires multiple kinds of listening:
- Listen to yourself – to find your note, to discover where your voice feels natural and powerful
- Listen to others – so we can blend, support and create something together
- Listen for balance – hearing both your own voice and the voices around you
Your body and voice will guide you. They'll tell you what range feels natural, where your power lives, what your unique instrument can do. We trust that wisdom.
Our Diverse Paths.
We all come to singing from different backgrounds. Each of us carries a history—perhaps we were told not to sing, or taught there's one "right" way to sing. Here, we acknowledge and respect those experiences while creating something new together.
Because we learn by ear; what emerges is interpretation. We are inspired by a variety of different songs, but it comes through our group, our voices, our unique expression. We honour that.
Songs come from somewhere. They are born through people and places.
In today's world, there's a tendency to take whatever we encounter and use it for our own benefit with no reciprocity or giving credit. We choose a different path. We recognize that:
- The songs we sing connect us to their origins
- The people who create and carry these songs deserve our acknowledgment
- Respecting the source can mean finding out the song's history and authorship, asking questions about the rights to share or perform a song or use a resource and always expressing gratitude
This is part of the Ubuntu principle: honouring our interconnection through these songs.
Recognizing our lineage.
When we see one person accomplishing something remarkable, they almost certainly had support, community, teachers and circumstances that made it possible. Research shows that mastery requires not just individual effort but the right conditions, mentorship and community support.
The humility to recognize and acknowledge our influences is counter-culture and a revolutionary act, especially in a society that glorifies individual achievement and "self-made" success. It's a practice reinforced by our Ubuntu foundation: we are who we are because of those who came before us and those who walk beside us.
More than "singing feels good" (though it does!), song brings us into the heart of the present moment. This space is meant to be safe for everyone who participates. You're welcome to come just to feel good through singing, but know that this practice offers more if you're open to it:
- Connection to yourself and your own healing journey
- Connection to others through shared experience
- Connection to something larger through the songs and their origins
- Growth in listening, both to yourself and others
Although the popular saying "fake it 'til you make it" may encourage confidence and perseverence, we choose to build community through authentic connections and the courage to show up as you are.
“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we're supposed to be and embracing who we actually are. Choosing authenticity means cultivating the courage to be imperfect, to set boundaries and to be vulnerable.”
― Brené Brown, The Power of Vulnerability: Teachings of Authenticity, Connections and Courage
This Space We Create Together
- We are gentle with ourselves and with each other.
- We practice patience with our voices and our learning
- We grow through repetition and listening, not through force
- We let our bodies and voices guide us
- We value what each person brings
- We trust the process
To maintain the safety and focus of this space:
- Keep the online chat focused on music and our practice together
- Respect each others differences
- Be kind to yourself and others
- Keep your ears and heart open
- Share from your own experience
The Practice
We value what we bring to each other. This includes:
- The investment of learning songs and their origins, understanding how the songs are to be shared
- The guidelines and support of the Ubuntu Choir Network and other teachers
- The unique gifts and experiences each singer brings
- The space that is created and that we hold together
There is a fee for participation—it's one way to honour the value of what we create and share together. The fee is modest, but if money is a barrier to attendance, please speak to Demian and we can find another form of exchange.
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*This is a living document, reflecting our ongoing learning and growth together.
Demian, recently moved back to 100 Mile House, attends a Fibre Arts art show opening hosted by Trish Chung. Trish invites guests to bring a creative act and Demian shares a song**. Enjoying the experience, a few people continue to meet in order to sing together.
Demian's journey to singing out loud was long and arduous, beginning with un-inspiring music lessons as a child and youth. A Drum Circle was the first step back to discovering the joy in shared music-making. She thanks Paula and Jim Bowie, Sharon Russell, Debra Dee, Dianne Baker, John Lovett, Emma Back, Jeffrey Newman, Michael Mayr and other song leaders, musicians and friends for their guidance and encouragement.
**"Eel River" by Meredith Buck was embraced by the larger community singing village and travels through many voices.
Read Meredith's story here.
The singing group grows and starts getting together more often: We S!NG is born. South Cariboo Arts and Culture Society takes us under their wing, providing a free space to meet and sing! Thank you Parkside Art Gallery and the SCACS Board members!
Demian joins the ranks of CCLT alumni and discovers a larger global singing village, the international UBUNTU Choir Network. Thank you to Denis Donnelly, Cathy Baker and Dick Jackson as well as the legacy of Siobhan Robinsong. Big love to Masterminds Rebekah and Naomi.
The We S!NG pod ventures out of our private Parkside cocoon to sing in public at the 108 Vintage Fair. We invite Jenny Lester to give a workshop in 100 Mile House which is well attended by the wider community. Thank you Jenny!
Our community singing group becomes a member of the 100 Mile Arts Council, who helps sponsor a successful grant application to the Cariboo Regional District.
We S!NG, small but mighty, flexes its wings, singing at the Hospice Marsh Walk, Nordics Moonlit Ski and International Womens Day! Members also "perform" at the Parkside Fall Music Series. Jenny Returns thanks to the 100 Mile Arts Council and the Cariboo Regional District.
We S!NG continues to attract more people and strengthen our voices. We look forward to more singers joining us and are always open to invitations within and without the community. We welcome guests and look forward to hosting more instructors to hone our harmonizing practice!
If you have questions, want to join our email newsletter, or are curious about singing with us, we'd love to chat with you. Sing ON!
