our peoples, our songs

Indigenous language reclamation and revitalization through music & message

Dadan Sivunivut, Red Music Rising, and LyricFind (with other expert Indigenous consultants) have come together to work on Indigenous Language Reclamation and Revitalization with the support of a new Indigenous Language and Culture (ILC) program grant through Canadian Heritage.

 LyricFind is the world leader in lyric monetization. LyricFind, a Toronto-based company, has been the leading source of online lyric licensing, distribution, and monetization since 2004. The LyricFind lyric catalogue services more that 100 platforms including Amazon, Google, Xperi, YouTube, Deezer, Pandora, and iHeartRadio to provide current, accurate, and fully licensed lyrics.

Dadan Sivunivut is a for-profit corporation that gathers all of the subsidiaries that APTN has established over the last 12 years under a new umbrella, headquartered in Ottawa, include: The AnimikiSee companies, First Peoples Radio, All Nations Network (ANN), Nagamo, and Red Music Rising. Dadan means “Our Peoples” in Southern Tutchone and Sivunivut means “Our Future” in Inuktitut.

This project includeS:

  • Connecting with previous Indigenous Language and Culture funded programs to gather stories and best practices and compile results to share with others who are working with revitalizing Indigenous Languages through music and lyrics.

  • Archiving and creating playlists of Indigenous artists songs (and music releases) through Red Music Rising.

  • Providing lyric monetization and translation services to artists.

  • Spreading awareness, engagement and "reconcili-action" for Indigenous songs globally.

  • Providing lyrics, song data, and soon subtitles for 100+ platforms including Google, YouTube, Amazon, Deezer, Pandora, and iHeartMedia.

The history of language repression in Canada is known and acknowledged.  Knowledge Holders, Song Keepers and Elders have taken risks and gone to great lengths to protect one of the most valuable and essential factors of culture; music and songs. Indigenous songs and lyrics are one of the greatest repositories of knowledge, story-telling, wisdom and joy, as well as sorrow, education, celebration, environmental stewardship throughout the ages, passed through many generations, ubiquitous and omnipresent, woven into all aspects of life.

Many communities and languages have been significantly challenged by language assimilation. Community involvement is essential in this language revitalization project through music and lyrics. We wish to invite Indigenous communities across the land to collaborate with Indigenous artists and professionals to reach the global music and media community.

All efforts will be undertaken following best community and industry practices, respecting protocol and collective ownership principals in order to assist programs globally in using songs and meaning in Indigenous language revitalization in this, the UNESCO Decade of Indigenous Languages.

Next Steps

If you are a community member or Indigenous Language and Culture grant recipient who has resources and best practices to share, please submit your information here.

If you are a songwriter or publisher interested in having your lyrics exhibited and monetized through lyric display, lyric videos, translations, or LyricMerch reach out to the LyricFind team at publisher@lyricfind.com

If you are interested in receiving the final compiled report of language revitalization resources and best practices through music and lyrics, sign up here.