Our Happy Friends/'Iiyus Siiye'yu Group:
We are a group of musicians, songwriters, Hul'q'umi'num' language advisors, educators, parents, and children, who came together to create and produce 35 recordings on two CD's. These songs came about because of a shared passion to see the Hul'q'umi'num' language thrive and build strong community relationships.
Please check out our acknowledgements page for a full list of contributors.
Happy Friends/'Iiyus Siiye'yu Songs
are a collection of recordings to promote beginning learning of the Hul'q'umi'num' language, and build community relationships. They can be enjoyed by people of all ages and listened to as single songs or used in a 30 to 45-minute music & movement class. The music and movement program is designed using principals of the whole-child learning approach and allows for both individual or group learning explorations in domains such as physical, cognitive, social and emotional learning.
The Happy Friends/'Iiyus Siiye'yu curriculum gives opportunities for children to practice social skills, turn-taking, listening, responding to cues, cooperating in group activities, spatial awareness, gross and fine motor skills, keeping a steady beat, hand-eye coordination, self-expression, and more.
Though it was originally designed for families with children ages birth to age 6, older elementary age children have also enjoyed learning from the songs and teachers often pair them up with a younger buddy class. The recordings offer opportunities to hear the sounds of nature, cultural music, musical instruments, and the first language ever spoken in our area - Hul'q'umi'num'. Happy Friends songs also allow a chance for family members and community to participate together, building and strengthening relationships.
