Ix̱six̱án, Ax̱ Ḵwáan (I Love You My People)

Seven amazing tribal citizen youth (Jacob Brouillette, Marcel Cohen, Bradley Dybdahl, Arias Hoyle, Keegan Kanan, Geri Rodriguez and Kenndra Willard) directed, rapped and produced this music video “Ix̱six̱án, Ax̱ Ḵwáan (I Love You, My People)” that illustrates their love for their culture and indigenous life in Southeast Alaska.

The youth created the music video in less than two weeks with technical support from Second2NoneSound (Josh Laboca), as part of a week-long music video camp sponsored by Tlingit & Haida’s Tribal Family & Youth Services department through its Native Connections program. The music camp, which was held July 16-20, 2018, focused on providing space for the youth to develop culturally-based social, emotional, mental, and spiritual skills to become healthy and resilient students.

The lyrics composed are in Tlingit and English while the scenes in the music video depict vignettes of our traditional tribal values as well as the history of Juneau and Southeast Alaska.

As part of the process, each youth participated in writing exercises to help create the lyrics and collaborated to develop the video's aesthetic. Outdoor activities were coordinated throughout the week to provide the students with the opportunity to capture video footage to illustrate the lyrics for their music video. By the end of camp, students learned how to create lyrics, shoot videos to illustrate the lyrics and produce a short music video.

Gunalchéesh, Háw’aa (Thank You) to our partners for your support and contribution to our tribal citizen youth in their music video project: Second2NoneSound, Vocational Training & Resource Center, Alaska Marine Highway System, One People Canoe Society, Goldbelt Heritage Foundation and Sacred Grounds Café.

This event is sponsored by Tlingit & Haida’s Tribal Family & Youth Services department under the Native Connections program. The event flyer and program material was developed under Grant # 6H79SM063465-02M001 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The views, policies and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAMHSA or HHS.