Waaseyaa Couchie connects kids to culture and music in Ukelele U
By Kelly Anne Smith
NIPISSING FIRST NATION — Waaseyaa Couchie had an exciting summer being in front of the camera working on a new TV show for kids. She also inspired the production.
Ukelele U is billed as an inclusive musical variety show to grow the creative spirit in children with dance, song and education.
Nine-year-old Waaseyaa is the daughter of Trina McGahey of Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and Clint Couchie of Nipissing First Nation. She attends L.B. Pearson for the Arts in London and is in Grade Four. She is a singer and enjoys all the arts programs. She especially likes her science class.
“How things can be mixed with more things to make something more exciting,” says Waaseyaa about experiments undertaken in her classroom.
At school, music-making is fun, too.
“Oh, there is a really fun room called the piano lab and there’s a bunch of pianos in the room.”
Getting her role in Ukelele U started with Waaseyaa singing Penquin at the Kiwanis Music Festival. Her high score for her virtual performance led her to the provincials and to be seen by a CBC TV producer. A cold call later, Waaseyaa joined Ukelele U.
Her parents are proud. Her dad, Clint, posted on social media that she really made an impression and there were lots of tears from Nokomis on that day of filming. Waaseyaa recounts what happened.
“There were certain parts of the TV show that felt like it would be a great time to wear my ribbon skirt. I just asked them and they were very accepting. So I put on my ribbon skirt and did my job in my ribbon skirt.”
Waaseyaa had fun learning dance choreography for the show.
“When I’m at home, or anywhere, I’d listen to the music and I dance to it to practice to perform. It was really cool to do that because usually I’d be just singing these songs. When I’m alone and listening to music, yeah, I dance.”
She wants to keep singing and dancing. Waaseyaa has new music in the upcoming Kiwanis Music Festival says mother Trina.
“She’s moved up so she has more pop songs from broadway musicals and she really loves it.”
Waaseyaa explains what Ukelele U is all about.
“Ukelele U is a music show that teaches children the joy of music through the uke. We learn songs from the host Melanie and we do a dance number of songs we just learned and talked about. There is a teaching moment and we help the audience to understand that song and sing that song correctly.”
In a social media post, her father talked about the family’s fun at the wrap party and how they watched some of the show.
“It’s amazing,” he says. “Such an amazing experience for Waaseyaa. Our family is proud, and I am sure our home communities of Nipissing First Nation and Chippewas of the Thames are super proud as well.”
“Ukelele U will be on CBC Kids and Gem,” Waaseyaa says.
Look for the show early winter 2022.