WATCH: Remote Canadian First Nation’s kids create haunting version of Cup Song

[Fred Sanders]

Last edited Sat Jun 21, 2014, 05:19 PM - Edit history (7)

http://globalnews.ca/news/1385570/watch-remote-first-nations-kids-create-haunting-version-of-cup-song/

"You're Going To Miss Me When I'm Gone"

WATCH: The young people of Berens River First Nation, in Manitoba, have taken a popular song and turned it into something that may make non-aboriginal people take a second look at their First Nation community and in a different light. Lauren McNabb explains.

WINNIPEG – Children from the remote Berens River First Nation in Manitoba have posted a YouTube video that combines images of decay on the reserve with an upbeat popular song.

The children of the remote community are sent to residential boarding schools or private homes far away from their homes for continuing education, as education in the community ends with Grade 9.

The song captures the melancholy of the youth in this poverty stricken reserve still not wanting to leave the natural beauty of their home to go into what amounts to a much richer but foreign country not that far in distance but still remote from their doorsteps.


The Cup Song, a traditional song combined with a percussion game played with cups, has been recreated on YouTube multiple times — but the Berens River video stands out with its slick production and haunting images from a place where many young people feel they have to leave to succeed. The community is 275 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

“When I’m gone, when I’m gone, you know you’re going to miss me when I’m gone,” Tatyanna Munkman sings and Alex Semple plays guitar as they walk from a rotting vehicle to a beautiful waterfront view.

"It sure would be prettier with you", is the translation of the video title.

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Edit note: it starts a little slow with a no-musical intro., start at one minute mark if you like.