Emma Stevens - My Unama'ki (My Cape Breton)

"My Unama'ki" is a love song for the island of Cape Breton written by students and staff at Allison Bernard Memorial High School in Eskasoni, Cape Breton (Unama'ki), Nova Scotia, Canada. My Unama'ki features lead vocals by Emma Stevens (grade 9) with supporting vocals from Keyonah Marshall (grade 10) and Kylie Francis (grade 12). Spoken words by Darren Stevens. "My Unama'ki" also features the fiddle tune "Constitutional Breakdown" by late Eskasoni fiddler and composer, Lee Cremo. All sales of "My Unama'ki" go 100% to the benefit of arts programs at "Allison Bernard Memorial High School". Songwriters: Carter Chiasson and Darren Stevens Music Production: Carter Chiasson and Jamie Foulds Audio Production: Jamie Foulds (Soundpark Studios) Video Production: Jason LeFrense/JLF Productions Project Lead/Music Teacher: Carter Chiasson http://www.abmhseskasoni.ca/ MY UNAMA'KI // LYRICS: Old ways live on in the land of the dawn In the hearts of the old and the young Where the sweet grass grows So wild and so free Wetapeksi’k Unama’ki (My roots are in Cape Breton) There’s ice on Bras d’or from shore to shore A treasure I’ll say no more As the sun sinks low The moon lights the snow And the stars sing Unama’ki Unama’ki ta’n telji welomu’k (Cape Breton, how beautiful it is) Mi’kmawey etli knaq (Where the Mi’kmaq culture and way of life is strong) Through the valleys and glens From the hills to the sea Wetapeksi’k Unama’ki (My roots are in Cape Breton) We gather at night by sacred firelight One with the earth and the sky Grandfathers burn bright Brighter than light All across Unama’ki Unama’ki ta’n telji welomu’k (Cape Breton, how beautiful it is) Mi’kmawey etli knaq (Where the Mi’kmaq culture and way of life is strong) Through the valleys and glens From the hills to the sea Wetapeksi’k Unama’ki (My roots are in Cape Breton) Kisu’lk wela’lin ta’n teli ika’lin wula mini’ku (Creator, thank you for putting me on this island) Ijapju i’tes tet mita nkamlomun etli samkewe’k (Forever I’ll stay here because it’s where my heart feels at peace) Kesite’tm ta’n L’nui (I love my native culture) Aqq ta’n wejikwenuksi wula tet miniku (And how I was raised on this island) I’japju e’tes tete’l mita kesatem (Forever I’ll stay here because I love it) Kesalkik skwijinu’k. Tahoe! (I love my people) From sunrise to sunset and all through the night My hearts on the island of isles In the land of the dawn The heartbeat is strong The heartbeat of Unama’ki Unama’ki ta’n telji welomu’k Mi’kmawey etli knaq Through the valleys and glens From the hills to the sea Wetapeksi’k Unama’ki This place is for you, this place is for me Wetapeksi’k my Unama’ki