Sophomore release by Zoongde`e builds on collective healing project with Aboriginal Legal Services and Make Music Matter
Toronto, ON – “Shout Over Silence” by Zoongde`e is the latest single to come out of the Culture to Wellness project, a collaboration between Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS) in Toronto and Canadian NGO Make Music Matter (MMM) to deepen approaches to holistic healing models for Indigenous communities.
This raw and defiant punk-infused track calls for justice and draws parallels between colonialism in Turtle Island and other parts of the world. Member of Zoongde`e Keenan Miller explains, “The song to me represents a way to give a voice to the First Nations people by expressing some of the issues that our people had and are still facing when it comes to justice, our land, our two-spirited people and our healing journey. In a way the song is expressing that we are here as First Nations people and we will be here until the end of time. We will still be here to fight for our rights and put an end to colonization and genocide.”
ALS staff have taken part in workshops based on MMM’s Healing in Harmony model – a unique blend of psychotherapy and music therapy with which they have integrated traditional Indigenous healing methods. Group therapy sessions have guided them in addressing the collective trauma they’ve experienced and that they face every day as front-line workers.
Project coordinator and victims rights advocate at ALS Quinn Roffey-Antoine believes it’s a way to build confidence and has brought a great sense of accomplishment amongst the group. “I think it’s amazing what our staff has been able to create through this process. Many of us are from different communities, some of us are allies but we all understand and/or have been affected by colonialism. We have our stories to tell and this has been a perfect avenue for us to tell them,” she says.
ALS will soon offer the Culture to Wellness program to their community members as an expansion of their multidisciplinary work.
Listen now to “Shout Over Silence” by Zoongde`e, available on all major streaming platforms via A4A Records.
Producer: Thomas Aman, Brock MacArthur
Mixing Engineer: Michael Phillip Wojewoda
Mastering Engineer: Guillermo Subauste
About Aboriginal Legal Services
For over 30 years, Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS) has been one of the leading non-profit organizations supporting Indigenous people and communities and a national leader in Indigenous justice and advocacy. ALS’ mission is to strengthen the capacity of the Indigenous community and its citizens to deal with justice issues and to provide Indigenous-controlled and culturally-based justice alternatives and healing.
About Make Music Matter
Make Music Matter uses the creative process as a therapeutic tool to help empower marginalized individuals and communities to recover, reintegrate, and reclaim their future with hope and dignity. Its innovative Healing in Harmony music therapy model has been clinically proven to help reduce PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Healing in Harmony has helped transform the lives of over 15,000 individuals in nine countries worldwide. Participants emerge with a renewed sense of agency and self-worth. Their original songs are professionally produced and released globally, serving as advocacy tools to promote human rights and combat stigma.
