Thunder BayNorthwestern Ontario Artists Shy-Anne Hovorka and Micah Pawluk have released a new symphonic work that that uses Indigenous storytelling to tell the story of many girls.Granddaughter’s Song is a 53-minute symphonic work that highlights love, wisdom, respectRajpreet Sahota · CBC News · Posted: Oct 05, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 8 hours agoShy-Anne Hovorka says the recording process was collaborative and phenomenal with Blueprint Studio. (Courtesy: Jean-Paul De Roover)An Anishinaabe-kwe singer has released Granddaughter’s Song, a new symphonic work rooted in the Seven Grandfather Teachings and performed with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.Co-created by singer-songwriter Shy-Anne Hovorka and pianist-composer Dr. Micah Pawluk, the 53-minute, multi-movement piece blends story, song and orchestral textures. According to the northwestern Ontario artists, it explores themes of love, courage, humility, wisdom, respect, honesty and truth. The work follows a young Ojibwe girl learning about herself, her family and her connection to the land and spirit. The journey is guided by her Gookum (grandmother). It also includes animals representing each of the Seven Grandfather Teachings, the core of Anishinaabe guiding principles for living a balanced life.Hovorka says the project helps bring “an awareness of what these very sacred teachings mean to us.” “It’s also about feeling and learning to understand, especially those who maybe do not identify as Indigenous or have questions about what it means, it kind of offers that window,” she explained.Drawing from Hovorka’s life, the one-track symphony traces the journey of many Indigenous women in northwestern Ontario from girlhood to leaving home for high school in Thunder Bay and into adulthood.The project began as a chamber recital for Pawluk’s doctoral studies in piano performance at the University of Alberta. “The original idea for this piece was actually for my schooling. I was giving a chamber recital, and I had been approved to work on this project where I would compose a piece, and I thought what better way to do it than to work together,” Pawluk said. Over several years, the work expanded from a voice-and-piano recital into the full orchestral version available today.Pawluk described the recording process as a collaborative effort, even though they both lived in different provinces at the time. “We realized, because I was still in school and it was going to be a little bit tricky, that I could actually do it from here. So that was pretty cool collaborating in completely different cities,” he said. He added that the project’s growth exceeded initial expectations.”It has grown so big, I feel like, wow, I’m so lucky that I even get to be a part of this. And I’m just so grateful that so many people are going to hear it, not just in northwestern Ontario,” Pawluk explained.The recording involved contributions from Indigenous and Métis musicians across Canada. Frédéric-Alexandre Michaud, assistant director of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, conducted virtually, while studio recordings from Southern Ontario were sent in and compiled by Justin Sillman and Blueprints Studio producer Jean-Paul De Roover. Elder Marilyn Netemegesic and Elder Victor Chapais also helped guide the project. Hovorka also emphasized the collaborative nature of the project.
These Northwestern Ontario artists released a musical journey on Anishinaabe teachings
