​Salma Z.，一位就读于费尔维尤学校的八年级学生，她在“想像一个加拿大”比赛中凭借她的作品获得省内第一，这是一项由国家真相与和解中心举办的全国性比赛。

今年五月，Salma 和她的家人受邀到埃德蒙顿与副省长一起参加一个仪式。现在，她被评选为本省最佳学生，并将前往渥太华参加在勒多堡举行的颁奖仪式。在渥太华，Salma 将参加一个全国圆桌论坛，并接受颁奖仪式。祝贺Salma！

为了歌唱他们的歌

当蓝鸟失去权利时
我们是否迷失了方向
在他们的蓝天下自由飞翔？
它曾经昂首飞翔，
直到红鸟将它们视为低劣，
只是因为它们唱着不同的歌。

蓝鸟学会了飞翔，
并在他们的蓝天下自由歌唱。
它是一首和平的歌-
赞美着树木、蝴蝶，和 夜晚平静带来的 美丽明月。

红鸟从未理解，
并想：“这首歌怎么会超越声音？”
因为它们有金属般的歌曲，
保持它们羽毛的光滑。
只有那首歌能够安抚它们。

“让我们留下”
红鸟会说。
蓝鸟很善良，
“在你找到的每个空间中飞翔”
蓝鸟只想翱翔-
没有其他。

红鸟变得越来越嘈杂；
这是它们计划中的一部分。
它们割断了蓝鸟的声音，
只留下寂静在蓝天中
只有红鸟能够飞翔。

云朵忘记了蓝鸟歌唱的声音
树木、蝴蝶和漫长的 夏日采摘浆果。
红鸟成了可怕的
被服从以单一音符的 船只带来了蓝鸟。

但对于年轻的雏鸟，那只是
一堆毫无用处的金属。
它们只想自由飞翔，
所以它们哭泣。
有些色彩已经消失，
甚至没有一点呼喊的痕迹。
***
有一天，蓝鸟将能够
在相同的蓝天下自由飞翔
如同红鸟一样。
它们将一起飞翔，
因为它们的血液中都流淌着红色，
让它们感受到情感的痛苦。

孩童间普遍的景象，小蓝雏鸟快乐地飞翔
可以自由地在天空中飞翔。
而红色的雏鸟感到
它们也想学习蓝鸟吸引人的歌
因为它不仅仅只是声音，它触动了他们的核心。

蓝鸟唱歌，
给红鸟带来巨大的满足感
这是一种改变灰色世界的方式
在蓝鸟身上留下悔意的色彩。

所有的鸟儿都应该有机会触摸云朵
并清晰响亮地歌唱他们自己的歌。
蓝鸟可能仍然保持沉默，
但为了更好的友谊，我们可以努力。
我们可以帮助它们记得自己的歌，
有一天，我们会一起唱歌。

树木、蝴蝶、夏日微风：
这是一首轻松而涌动的歌。


 

 

​Salma Z., a Grade 8 student at Fairview School, has been selected as top in the province for her submission to “Imagine a Canada” contest, a national contest held by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

In May, Salma and her family were invited to Edmonton for a ceremony with the Lieutenant Governor. Now, she has been selected top in the province and is being flown to Ottawa for the awards ceremony at Rideau Hall. In Ottawa, Salma will participate in a national roundtable discussion and have an honouring ceremony. Congratulations Salma!

The Fight to Sing Their Song

Did we lose sight
when the blue birds lost right
to fly freely in their blue sky?
They once soared gloriously up high,
until the red birds treated them low,
only because a different song they know.

The blue birds learned to fly
and sing as they wish in their blue sky.
It was a peaceful song-
glorifying trees, butterflies, along
with the serenity brought with night
and the moon’s beautiful light.  

The red birds never understood
and thought “How could
this song be more than just sounds?”
For they had songs of metal rounds
and keeping their feathers smooth. 
Only that song could ever soothe

“Let us stay”
the red birds would say.
The blue birds were kind,
“fly in every space you find”
The blue birds only wanted to soar-
nothing more.

Louder, the red birds grew;
it was part of the plan they knew.
They cut away the blue birds’ voices,
and left them with no choices
but to keep quiet in the blue of the sky
and to only let red birds fly.

The clouds forgot the blue song
of trees, butterflies, and long
summer days picking berries.
The red birds were the scaries
to be obeyed with a single note.
Blue birds were brought on their boat.

But for the young hatchlings, it sunk,
the useless metal hunk.
They only wanted to fly
freely and so they did cry.
Some shades had died out,
not leaving even a trace of a shout.
***
One day, the blue birds will fly
freely across the same blue sky
as the red birds.
They shall fly in mixed herds,
as both have red coursing through their veins,
allowing them to feel emotional pains.

A common sight, little blue hatchlings in joy
that a free sky they can enjoy.
And the red hatchlings feeling
that they too, want to learn the appealing
song of the blue birds, for it was more
than sounds, it ringed right to their core.

And so the blue birds did sing,
great content it did bring
for the red birds, it was a way
to colour the grey
upon the blue birds they had splashed
as feelings of remorse flashed.

All birds deserve a chance to touch a cloud
and to sing their song clear and loud.
The blue birds may still feel mute,
but for a better friendship we can shoot.
We can help them remember their song,
one day, we will sing along.

Of trees, butterflies, the summer breeze: 
A song that will come to us with ease.