Prelude: Cultural Appropriation

The focus of this Advent/Christmas/Epiphany issue is cultural appropriation.

In the Music for Worship section of Gathering Pentecost 1 2021, we focused on Indigenous composers and music resources. I gained much wisdom from Cree and Dene songwriter Sherryl Sewepagaham a few years ago. She shared some customs from her Cree and Dene background, and if we take the spirit of these ideas, I believe they can be applied to the music of many cultures.

Whenever you can, invite someone of another culture to share or lead in song, story, wisdom, and teachings. When you invite them, find out what the appropriate protocol is for their culture. How can you honour their gifts of teaching and wisdom? Giving them a gift or an honorarium might be appropriate.

Whenever someone has shared music, always ask permission for subsequent use or before you share with any other groups. If the music has been gifted to you, it should not be re-gifted in another setting without permission. If in doubt, it’s always better to ask for permission than to beg for forgiveness!

When sharing music, proclaim the culture from which it comes. Make sure you credit the author and composer. Perhaps a guest from that culture could explain the meaning of the song, give some background information, or discuss its inspiration.

If you can, create a relationship with the person who is sharing with you and have them teach you the pronunciation of the text. It is wonderful to have them demonstrate how to create the sound and timbre of the piece so that you can try to share it with authenticity. Finally, any sharing of music from any culture has to be from your heart, in the genuine spirit of learning and caring.

Tammy-Jo Mortensen Music Editor
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