One Voice Chorus (OVC) is a mixed choir for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit, and queer singers and their cisgender allies. We are an auditioned choir with a wide-ranging repertoire: from classical to jazz, from madrigals to show tunes, and more!
Schedule a bottle pick-up through Skip the Depot using this link and donate the proceeds to One Voice Chorus! Every bit helps, and you don’t even have to leave your home!
Making a meaningful contribution through musical excellence and serving as a beacon for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community
The only thing better than singing is more singing
- Ella Fitzgerald
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Check out the many ways to become part of our incredible community.
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AUDITIONS ARE HELD EVERY SEPTEMBER AND JANUARY!
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One Voice Chorus Land Acknowledgement & Commitment Statement
One Voice Chorus (OVC) acknowledges that the land where we work and live is within the home territories of: the Blackfoot Confederacy, which includes the Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani First Nations; the Tsuut’ina First Nation; and the Îethka Nakoda people, which includes the Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Goodstoney First Nations. Calgary is the colonial name given to this place that has traditionally been known as Mohkínstsis (Blackfoot), Wincheesh-pah or Wenchi Ispase (Îethka Nakoda), or Guts'ists'i (Tsuut'ina).
Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3, and is within the Northwest Métis homeland.
We are grateful to the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit, who continue to act as land defenders and water protectors, as they have done for generations. We are grateful that this land has been respected and maintained, and we acknowledge that we are all in relationship to this land and responsible for its care.
We acknowledge that, as citizens living in Treaty 7 territory, it is our responsibility to pursue a deeper understanding of this Treaty, so that we can respect and honour its terms.
We acknowledge that Indigenous peoples have been harmed in the colonization process that is ongoing, and that settlers within this country continue to benefit from this process. We call upon the government of Canada to enact the recommendations set out by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada in 2015.[1]
Acknowledging the truths of our shared history and colonialism's impact is only a first step towards reconciliation. Alongside acknowledging Treaty 7, the territories, and the people it represents, we at OVC would also like to share some of the actions we can contribute to reconciliation.
OVC is committed to the following actions in support of reconciliation:
OVC will support, by donation and advocacy, Indigenous-led non-profit organizations.
OVC will pursue artistic collaborations with Indigenous performers and artists.
OVC will hire Indigenous leaders, educators, and/or activists from our local community to further our education.
OVC is also committed to upholding the calls to justice outlined by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (NIMMIWG)'s Final Report, released in 2019.[2] Specifically, OVC will:
denounce and speak out against violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people within our printed, sung, or spoken concert messages, (15.1);
listen to the truths shared in this final report, and acknowledge the burden of these human and Indigenous rights violations, and the impact they have for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people today, (15.3);
and we will use what we learn and some of the resources suggested in this report to become stronger allies (15.4).
We thank you for reading our Land acknowledgement and commitment. This statement, as it currently reads, has been developed by OVC members, in consultation with First Nation and Métis advisors. This statement represents our current understanding of this land’s history, and our current understanding of how we can act as allies. This learning is ongoing and evolving, and therefore, we are also committed to evolving this statement over time. If you would like to know more about our process or you have questions, please email us – we’d love to hear from you.
[1] http://trc.ca/assets/pdf/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf
[2] https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/
