© 2001

Children Singing Peace Around the World  (CSPAW) Composed, Created and Directed by Dawn L. Ferguson Children Singing Peace Around the World is a living prayer to heal the Earth sung with heartfelt commitment by youth and elders around the globe.  Originally composed on Mt. Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii, its message of Peace and Aloha radiates worldwide through CSPAW programs, recordings and sharing heart to heart. Click to order CSPAW Volume One CD/DVD and to download CSPAW Vol.One Songbook pdf file

This year Children Singing Peace Around the World recordings were completed in Ireland, New Zealand, Maryland (U.S.A.), Japan and the Mohawk Nation Territories. Photo journals and information about these experiences can be enjoyed by clicking on the links next to each country visited.  Two additional language translations were received, one in  African Zulu  and the other in Korean, and the Thai translation is currently in process. 

With deep appreciation and gratitude, I thank all of you who have volunteered your time and services, opened your homes, provided meals and ground support, and given whatever is needed assistance to bring this song and experience to so many around the world.  And thank you to all of the children and youth who have shared their hearts and their voices to make this CD  available to others and who continue to blossom peace through being all of who they are.   May we listen to the children and make choices each moment that are in the best interest of all the children of all the species for all future generations.

CSPAW IRELAND - January, 2004
Dublin, Ireland

In January, 2004 the 4th, 5th and 6th grade classes of Christ the King Girls School in Dublin joined their hearts, creativity and voices together with their teachers and Dawn resulting in a beautiful Irish recording of Children Singing Peace Around the World.  The girls made three colorful murals portraying the theme that then served as set design for their video recording featuring their version of the song and the accompanying dance they choreographed.  The girls received admiring applause from children in the lower grades for their wonderful performance of Children Singing Pece at the conclusion of our time together.  They planned to share their creations with the nearby church congregation and the boys' school soon after Dawn's departure...and then?

Mahalo to all the girls, their teachers and to Principal Annemarie Hogan for this creative opportunity to share our hearts, our ideas and to sing and dance this message of Peace together.  The joy expressed in the Irish version adds their special chord to the overall symphony of "Children Singing Peace".  Thank you for participating, contributing and continuing to sing your hearts to the world.....!
 

CSPAW NEW ZEALAND - April, 2004
Rotorua, New Zealand

The enthusiastic vision of Australia Aborigine Studies teacher, Simone Jordan initiated and facilitated bringing CSPAW to New Zealand.  Through the kind hospitality of her Maori relatives Ruihi and Monty Edwards, we both were able to travel to New Zealand and bring a CSPAW program to students at the Rotorua Lakes High School.  Ms. Jordan brought many gifts of musical instruments and drawings to initiate a bridge between her Aborigine students in Australia and the Maori students in New Zealand.  Eventually we envision a CSPAW gathering offering possibilities for the youth from the countries involved to come together.

Mahalo to all the youth, music teacher, Chris Pasco, Maori cultural studies teacher, Auntie Bea Yates, Wayne Hall, Deputy Principal and John Ellis, Principal for their enthusiastic participation, facilitation and support.

	Experiencing some of the sights of Rotarua and gradually learning a bit about the Maori culture from my hosts and the students at RLHS, I learned that in the Maori culture there is  a traditional greeting which is conveying a message of welcome and peace.  A woman sings the welcoming message of peace followed by what appears to be a fierce display to an inexperienced outsider, by male greeters/dancers who stick out their tongues and show threatening gestures.  The message is that the peace between the welcoming party and the visitors will be held steadfast.
Each culture brings a new tone and quality to the CSPAW's symphony.  The Maori version brings a profound heart welcoming and a strong committment to hold the peace steadfast.  The presence of the ancestors supporting us is in the feeling tone and the words as translated by Te Keepa and Atareta Marsh and Ruihi Haira Edwards.  In honor of the ancestors, we sang and danced CSPAW Maori in front of the Wharenui on the grounds of Rotorua Lakes High School.
	One afterrnoon Te Keepa, Atareta and Ruihi and I went up a mountain for a walk in nature.  While there TeKeepa pointed out a particularly vibrant green tree.  I was drawn to have a closer look at it. I was surprised to see that behind the vibrant green veneer the inner trunk was rotting.  TeKeepa shared that the message from the ancestors about the trees was:  "If you look at us and you see that we are sick, you will know that man too is or soon will be sick." In another outing, after walking through the forest with Ruihi and sitting for awhile in meditation under a canopy of trees, I heard another message from the trees, "If you take care of us, we'll take care of you.".  In fact,  I had been quite ill with respiratory congestion and hoarseness in response to the sulfur in the air in Rotorua.  After  spending an hour in amongst these trees, I could breathe openly, my voice returned and I felt much better.  I was very grateful to the trees and their reminder of the intimate connection between mother earth and ourselves. As we take care of her, she takes care of us.

CSPAW MARYLAND, U.S.A.- May, 2004
Frederick, Maryland, U.S.A.

Just a few days before the dedication of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., second through fourth grade students of music teacher Pat McIntosh from The Banner School joined five students and teacher, Rita Corey from the Maryland School for the Deaf (MSD) recorded a CSPAW English version and CSPAW in American Sign Language.  This recording brings its message of peace to hearing impaired individuals.  A reporter from the Frederick Post and a local radio broadcaster joined us and  brought the children's voices and news of their participation with CSPAW to the greater Frederick community over Memorial Day.  Interestingly, the doors opened to bring CSPAW to Japan during this same week and later in the summer the CSPAW Japan recording was completed a couple weeks after the anniversary of the dropping of the atom bomb at Hiroshima.  The timing of both events though not consciously planned around these anniversary events was perfect.

Thank you to parent, Elizabeth Granzow who initiated and organized this program at Banner School.  Many mahalos too to all of the children, music teacher Pat McIntosh and MSD drama teacher, Rita Corey for your dedication and heartfelt involvement in producing a beautiful recording and program.  Special thanks to student,  Meghan Reading for your technical assistance.

CSPAW JAPAN - August, 2004

CSPAW Japan was made possible by Mayumi Mori, the Global University and OOO New World Group.  Ms. Mori and her team of Co-creators, Fumiko Nagimene, Kohrin Tokunaga, Kazoo Kojima and Katsuhiko Nagasawa collaborated in flowing  beautiful CSPAW experiences and recordings in several locations throughout Japan. Mahalo to everyone for your great love, facilitation, tremendous energy and dedication.  I'm grateful for all of your assistance and happy to meet so many new friends!

Toning the Children's Peace Bowl.	As we enjoyed sharing together at the Democratic School in Amaji,  Kazoo talks in the background with a local reporter who came to write a story about our experience with CSPAW in Japan. Thank you for spreading the words, the song and the message.

We went to Hiroshima to pay respects and offer our prayers and ceremonies for peace.  Mayumi had said their was a song there for us.  I said, "All we need to do is listen and ask and we will receive the song."  When I arrived in Hiroshima, I stopped at the entrance to the memorial and prayed.  As I walked circumambulating the dome, I stopped at many sacred spots along the way.  Just after leaving an alter area where many had placed peace offerings, I noticed a large Crow up above in a tree seemingly calling me with his "Caw, Caw, Caw".  He said, "the birds over there have your song."  I looked "over there" and saw a flock of small birds in the grass.  Inside, I asked if they had a song for me?  What I heard was a song, the words follow: Hiya, hiya, hi-ya, hi-ya, hi Lessons learned we're one now. Hiya, hiya, hi-ya, hi-ya, hi Lessons learned we're one now. Yorokobi Ima (Joy now in Japanese) Yorokobi Ima Yorokobi Ima Yorokobi Ima! Thank you to the birds for such a beautiful song!  As we listen, we dance in harmony with the Earth.

Some participants young and old share about their experiences with CSPAW-Japan below.   I was aware of inner peace, joinig Peace Room Fuka here in Fukuoka,and reading the lyrics of "Children Singing Peace Around the World" written by Dawn Feguson.  Japan nowadays is full of materials, and it looks in peace.But it seems to me that the peace we have is just on the surface. If you wish authentic peace, it should involve in father, mother, brothers, and sisters, and we should all think about peace together. We should always keep the meanings of the lyrics in our minds and put it into action in our real lives. Thanks to Dawn and Fumiko, this gathering gave me a great chance to consider what peace means.I am going to think about peace with the children and adults around me. Lastly but not the least I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Dawn and Fumiko for giving me such a significant opportunity.                                         Mr.Sadamu Ogata (aged 73)                                          (bowing below with peace bell)

"We plays with Dawn folding paper or Origami.She showed us a different type of paper crane from ours.I gave her some cranes folded in  a traditional Japanese way.  I was surprised to hear that Dawn saw 'Pianica' or a portable blowing piano for the first time. I tried very hard to practice playing  'Pianica'. I also dancing in Yukata or a Japanese casual kimono in summer.  Doing these things with Dawn and the people in Peace Room Fuka turned to be my beautiful memories."                                 Rino Sato (girl , aged 8) (pictured below)    I had a very good time with Dawn singing and dancing for three days. I wish we would spread the song "Children Singing Peace Around the World" to a lot of people!                                  Mao Fukazaki (girl, aged 9) Mahalo to Fumiko and her friend Ritsuko for translating them into English.

CSPAW MOHAWK NATION TERRITORIES- November, 2004

We recorded the Mohawk version of CSPAW at the Ahkwesahsne Freedom School(AFS) located in the Ahkwesahsne Mohawk Territory, North America.  Mahalo to Konwanaktotani Elvera Sargent for resonating with the song and message of CSPAW, arranging for the Mohawk version to be contrbuted by students and teachers at AFS and welcoming me in her home. Niawen to all the youth and their teachers for bringing their hearts, voices and wisdom to this recording and experience.  Special thanks to singer/songwriter, Bear Fox for adding her vocals, music and assistance.  Understanding now my maternal ancestoral connections with  mohawk people, I am also deeply appreciative for the personal learning that I experienced while being present with all of you.
 Niawen, Mahalo, Thank you!

"The Ahkwesahsne Freedom School was founded in 1979 by parents who wanted to to take control of the education of their children.  They wanted their children to know about themselves and who they were as Native people. At that time, there was a government policy to attempt to assimilate out of us who we are.  The parents' were very courageous.  The school has operated on a shoe string budget all these years.  We currently have 64 students who are immersed in the Mohawk language and their culture."
The mural Ahkwasahsne students created depicting their visions of peace and their culture.	Singers from Ahkwasahsne Freedom School.

The mission of our school is: 
"Through our language the Akwesahsne Freedom School will support and encourage a process for each child to learn their roles and responsibilities as Haudenosaunee through an understanding of the Ohen:ten Karihwatekwen (words that come before all else) as the core of their learning experience.  The three guiding principles of Sken:nen (Peace), Kasatstensera (Inner Strength or some say Power) and Kanikonriio (Good Mind) will thrive and be heard in the voices of our children for the next seven generations."

Konwanaktotani Elvera Sargent
Manager, Ahwesahsne Freedom School

"What we are trying to do here is to reverse the effects of what happened to them as people (see right).  It is sad when you think about it ....to be punished when you are  speaking your language.  Many people were hurt. So here, we want to change all that....and change takes so much time, it takes alot of energy...Here, we want to show our students that it is Ok to speak your language, and know your culture and know who you are. And when you do know all that, you end up being a stronger person.  And it has started to show....once the kids leave here and they go to public schools.....they are very strong people and they turn out to be really good human beings and good adults.  Konwanaktotani Elvera Sargent Manager, Ahwesahsne Freedom School

"We went to a school in Northern Ontario. It's a residential school for Natives in mostly Ontario At that school we weren't allowed to speak in Mohawk, in our  language. We used to hide and talk with other Native people....we'd get together so we could still speak our language. ....as a result most of us were able to keep our language.  Bill Sunday (Elder, relative of Konwanaktotani Elvera's)

Pure thoughts, Pure waters, Peace.

A Spring at Kanatsiohareke (Ga na jo ha lay:gay) "The Clean Pot" Mohawk Indian Community Fonda, N.Y.