[Intro - spoken]
We would like to start by honouring the unceded land of the Coast Salish peoples that we are on, which has been the site of human activity since time immemorial. “unceded” means never surrendered, relinquished, or handed over in any way. most of british columbia remains unceded sovereign Indigenous lands, over which neither the canadian or british columbian governments have the legal or moral authority to govеrn
This land includes the territoriеs of the Musqueam; Skwxwú7mesh; Tsleil-Waututh; Kwikwetlem; Kwantlen; Katzie, Qayqayt; Semiahmoo; and Tsawwassen First Nations
There are eight constitutionally entrenched modern treaties in british columbia, including the Nisga’a. 65 self-identifying First Nations, representing 109 current and former indian act bands, are participating in, or have completed the treaty negotiations process
We are all Treaty People. many of us have come here as settlers, immigrants, and newcomers, in this generation or generations past. it is our responsibility to continue learning how to honour and support the varied strategies that Indigenous peoples are using to protect their land and communities. we commit to dedicating time and resources to working in solidarity
We are mindful of broken covenants and strive to make this right in all our relations, with the land, and with one another. we recognize that the voices of all people have not always been acknowledged. it is our chosen duty to provide these voices with a brave space to be heard
We would also like to acknowledge those of us who came here forcibly, particularly as part of the trans-atlantic slave trade. therefore, we honour and pay tribute to ancestors of African origin and descent
Let this Land Acknowledgement serve as a recognition of the thousands of lives that continue to be uncovered at 139 residential schools across canada – which continue to be excavated, the last of which closed in 1996. this is not “history.” we are living with, and, in many instances, benefitting from, the consequences and exploitations of these institutions. we ask now, in honour of those lives lost, and the responsibilities we all have towards truth and reconciliation, that we hold a moment of silence
[Verse 1]
I cry out from the mountaintop
I crawl down and i don't look up
Every single thing that i could want or desire
Is in the trees, in front of my eyes
Nothing even makes the slightest radar blip;
I'm hanging on for dear life
[Verse 2]
I walk onto a southern train
I hope off when i can't hear the rain
[Pre-Chorus 1]
I search for the land of the living
Through the valley of the dead
I search for the land of the living
And a different kind of death
[Chorus 1]
The courage of fear
Takes me down here
[Verse 3]
I wake up with the western sun
I rise up and i tumble down
Lyin' in the desert, where there's nowhere to hide
From anyone except myself
Vultures take a dive and they pluck out my eyes --
Now every sight is crystal clear
[Pre-Chorus 2]
I search for the land of the living
Through the valley of the dead
I search for the land of the living
Won't you take me? won't you take me?
I search for the land of the living
I must first carve my own path
My search for the land of the living
Left me one foot in the grave
[Chorus 2]
The courage of fear
(take it, take it, take it, take it, take it)
Takes me down here
(take it, take it, take it, take it, take it)
The courage of fear
(take it, take it, take it, take it, take it)
Takes me down here
(take it, take it, take it, take it, take it)
[Pre-Chorus 3]
Return from the land of the living
Where i faced me. where i faced me
Return from the land of the living
And the loss was stood to gain
I searched for the land of the living
And i found we're much the same
I reach for the hand of the giving now
In every waking day
[Breakdown]
Take me, take me, take me, take me, take me
Take me, take me, take me, take me, take me, take me
Take me, take me, take me, take me, take me
Take me, take me, take me, take me
Take me, take me, take me, take me
Take me, take me, take me, take me, take me
[Chorus 3]
The courage of fear
It takes me up there
The courage of fear
It takes me up
It takes me up
It takes me up
It takes me up...
There
