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Artscene ment did." The Oakville woman, who juggles motherhood, a job at Appleby College, a music director position with the local Anglican Church of the Incarnation, as well as charity work, was inspired to write the song after watching the news while waiting to catch a flight at By Tina Depko Pearson Airport on June 12, 2008. OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF "The government actually took a public stance and recognized that they made errors in judgment," she Music is often used as a means of expression. More often than not, it is utilized to convey love. said. "In my lifetime, I've seen the impact of the disOther times, it is used for emotions like sorrow or jubi- placement of native Canadians. In terms of their culture being preserved and consideration of who they lation. are as a unique people, so much of that was missed. I Local singer/songwriter Janice was literally brought to tears in the Moro is using music to express grati- "It is about personal and airport. Immediately the phrase, tude. `There is a day of reckoning' with a Moro has penned a song called collective responsibility and melody began in my head." Will You Stand. It is a big thank you the fact that the government She said her connection to to politicians for last year's formal took a stand." native Canadians goes back to her apology by the federal government to youth, when she would spend time former students of native residential Janice Moro at her grandparents' cottage at schools. Singer/songwriter Eagle Lake in northern Ontario. Approximately 150,000 First There were reserves in the area, so Nations, Inuit and Métis children were removed from their communities throughout at a young age, she was made aware of the struggles of most of the last century and forced to attend residen- aboriginal people. "You could see they were going through a difficult tial schools. Many of them suffered emotional, physical time and that had a huge impact on me," she said. "I and sexual abuse. Will You Stand, written in a Gospel music style, remember my father telling me that it was important credits the government with trying to make amends for us to help preserve their culture. I've always felt a sense of responsibility due to the fact that as a for past wrongs. "It is about personal and collective responsibility Canadian, we have a moral obligation to deal with this and the fact that the government took a stand," Moro issue that is a blight on our history." See Singers page 40 said. "The question is `Will you stand?' and the govern- · FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009 39 Singer celebrating native apology through music Community recording of new song on June 4 Janice Moro