Updated December 2022

In January 2021, my producer and co-writer Errol Starr Francis and I released the “Together We Can Stand Up” peace anthem. This song calls us to tap into hope and possibility. Every January I do something meaningful in memory of my son Quinn, who was murdered in January 2016. This song was my gift to share in Quinn’s memory for 2021, and I’m bringing it back around for 2023.

Together We Can Stand Up is all about coming together to create a better world for us all.

This peace anthem became the #1 Most Played Song in 2021 for the “Music is the Medicine” radio show on 94.9 CHRW Radio Western here in London Ontario. The single “Together We Can Stand Up” was also selected, out of hundreds of entries, for the 33.3 Ontario triple vinyl compilation!

“We are all relations together on sacred ground.”
(lyric from “Together We Can Stand Up”)

I know I’m not the only one who had a vision years ago about this time. There are Indigenous prophecies from long ago that point to this time. In fact, even scientifically, and thanks to the Mayan peoples, we know Mother Earth has been through something similar multiple times and she is still here. We can all do our part to make things better.

One of the First Nations teachings I learned long ago is that we are all relations. We call each other relatives even if we are not blood-related or even from the same community. We acknowledge that every living thing on Mother Earth is our relative, right down to the soil and rocks at your feet, that breeze in your hair and the water that inhabits literally everything here.

We know that all life on Mother Earth is connected. That’s why one of the lyrics is “We are all relations together on sacred ground.” For many of us who are extra sensitive and connected, or are disadvantaged or who live with trauma, it can get overwhelming.

It can be easy to slip into hopelessness or a sense of feeling lost, depressed or angry. Empathic and Indigenous people, frontline workers, people with disabilities, people on low incomes or any other intentionally marginalized communities are being hit hardest. Some people are acting out their worst behaviours, while others step up to make things better.

Society trained us well to stuff our feelings, so most people did and still do. That only creates future volcanic outbursts or internalized pain. We need healthy outlets for that pain, which is why I channel healing songs.

“Life is here for you, remember you’re a blessing.
Do what lights you up, that’s how we get to freedom.”
(lyrics from “Together We Can Stand Up”)

My elder once said “We are the only ones on the planet who have forgotten our original instructions.” We need to remember who we are, have compassion for each other, and get back in right relations with ourselves, each other and Mother Earth.

What if we all slipped into a sense of hope, possibility and connection and at the same time dealt with our own trauma and personal shadow? That is what we are being called to do now. That is how we will remember who we are and that we all are meant to be a blessing.

It might feel like a tall order, and that’s because it is, but we MUST become response-able, able to respond in a good way to what is in front of and around us. The one thing we can control is how we respond to life.

We can’t spiritual bypass our way out of this situation or put the blame on others while ignoring our own personal shadow. We are being invited to be present with our shadow and our light, which is not easy for most but it is so important to accept that invitation.

“We keep hearing how we’re all in this together.”
(lyric from “Together We Can Stand Up”)

When I began to write the lyrics for this song, I was really tired of hearing “we’re all in this together.” If that were true, then my Indigenous relatives across Turtle Island would all have clean drinking water, poverty would be a thing of the past and healthcare would be available to everyone for free. We’ve got a long way to go but I am hopeful.

The truth is, being “all in this together” is what needs to happen for us to get out of this mess. That’s why in this peace anthem I say “We keep hearing how we’re all in this together. We need to love ourselves and care about each other.”

We need to re-create a decolonized foundation for humanity or we will just continue to see more strife. There’s only so much abuse from humans that Mother Earth can manage. Let’s turn that around.

“Let’s lift each other higher and gather in the eye of the storm.”
(lyric from “Together We Can Stand Up”)

Let this healing song be a ray of hope and inspiration, some reassurance so that even though we don’t know what will happen next, we can take a few deep breaths at least once a day and remember “who we are and who we can be” as I say in the song. “We are powerful together.”

It’s time for us to stand up for Mother Earth, ourselves and each other in a good way, to create lasting positive change and a world of inclusiveness, harmony and equality. That may have felt like a pipe dream for many years, and it might still seem so, but it is now within our reach.

If there was ever a time to find your voice and live out your purpose, it is NOW.

What’s one step you can take toward remembering and following your original instructions?

WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO:

Go listen to the song! Dance it out! Sit and breathe it in and out of your belly. Sing along! The music video and lyrics are right here along with where you can stream or download it on all the platforms. Go find out why it was the Number One Most Played Song in 2021 on #MusicistheMedicine.

“Together We Can Stand Up is a powerful song of hope and just the medicine we need right now. The lyrics are a beautiful reminder that we can create a future of love and unity together. Chi-miigwetch for this medicine song!”
– Crystal Hardy Zongwe Binesikwe, host of Zee’s Place on CILU 102.7FM in Thunder Bay

“From the first hit of the drum, Together We Can Stand Up immediately transports you to a sunny destination as you listen to a hopeful and positive message of love and unity. Such a wonderfully put together reggae tune that you can’t help but move to. The Frog Radio is “hoppy” to add this track to rotation!”
– Denise Halfyard, The Frog Radio

May I ask a favour? Well I’m going to anyway, so here we go. Please share this song! We need it to reach the hearts and minds of millions of people worldwide, and these days that is a huge job, so please, share over social media. Tell your friends. And please don’t give up on humanity. It might take us a while, but I have faith that we will find a way to make things better for all.

A special thank you goes out to Colette Baron-Reid, a renowned oracle deck creator and teacher with a silky voice. She is one of our backup singers and also featured in the video.

Love & Blessings,

Brenda