Embracing Himdag (Way of Life) and Cultivating our Identity through Music and Movement

Abstract

Children’s Language and Literacy are developed using music and movement by strengthening listening skills as they attempt to clap and move in conjunction with the tempo and pitch of the music. They learn to listen and follow directions in various songs and chants. The lyrics of songs build vocabulary and understanding of language. For Indigenous peoples, “The lyrics in traditional songs are imbued with meaning and history. Traditional songs often encode and model the proper, respectful way for humans, non-humans, and the natural and supernatural realms to interact and intersect. In many Indigenous cultures, songs recount detailed bio-cultural knowledge that sits in specific places and thus can document rights to and responsibilities for traditional territories.” Dana Lepofsky, Álvaro Fernández-Llamazares, & Oqwilowgwa Kim Recalma-Clutesi (2023, September 27).