Karen Sunabacka
Associate Professor of Music
Karen Sunabacka believes that her work is better when collaborating with her mom and with Elders. For more than a decade, Karen has partnered with her mother, Joyce Clouston, on music compositions. Joyce writes the text in collaboration with Karen, and Karen composes the music. The duo has written instrumental pieces with spoken text, pieces for choir, and pieces for singer and ensemble. They often explore their Indigenous ancestors, and have also written pieces about the Cree Moons, Métis and Mennonite relations, and explorations of family relationships.
Karen describes the text-writing process – which can take months and includes brainstorming, ongoing feedback, and consultation with Elders – as very valuable. “We both learn so much from each other, and from the Elders,” Karen reflected. “I am gaining new perspectives, and I had to learn how to listen better, especially when consulting with Elders.”
“There have been so many times that an Elder has helped me to see something that I had completely missed, or not thought about,” she added. “My collaborative work has more authenticity and is a unique aspect to my professional sound.”
“The deepening relationship between my Mom and I has been such a gift,” noted Karen. “We are having so much fun learning about our ancestors and beginning to understand where our values come from.”
“I hope that our work brings more understanding and respect about Indigenous cultures, and in particular the Métis culture,” Karen shared. “I hope that audiences learn from the stories of my ancestors, that they see how strong and powerful my Métis women ancestors were and how important women were and still are for the Métis peoples. I also think that our collaboration can model how to work in a good way with Indigenous peoples. It is so important to us that we continue to maintain good relationships with each other, and with all the Elders with whom we collaborate.”
Karen and her mother are becoming known for their collaborative compositions. They have numerous pieces in the works, receive multiple commissions a year, and their compositions are regularly played on CBC radio.
