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