The group FOXY – or Fostering Open eXpression among Youth – is using the power of music and songwriting to help NWT youth express their feelings and experiences in a safe environment.
Since 2012, FOXY has used the arts to teach girls in the North about sexuality, sexual health and relationships.
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The group has always incorporated music into its programming, but only recently launched its own original music recording project with the help of professionals.
This week, young girls recorded five songs in Yellowknife with the help of professional recording artist Veronica Johnny and Spirit Walker Productions.
Nancy MacNeill, FOXY’s project coordinator, says music can be an important form of expression for youth.
“We include arts in the delivery of all our education and programming,” she told Moose FM.
“A lot of young people really connect to music and I think as adults a lot of us forget that. Music is almost a primal way that we connect to each other, to the world and to ourselves.
“It’s really important to give them the space to create music that is about their own experiences. There’s a lot of really powerful healing that can happen in those spaces.”
While music has long been a part of FOXY’s programming, this most recent project involving professionals was only made possible because of a grant from the NWT Arts Council.
MacNeill says the group is currently working on launch plans, and that she’s hopeful the productions will be made public in the next six to 12 months.
