In October, students in grade 11e year French course "Découvrir les voix contemporaines des Premières Nations, des Métis et des Inuits" (Discovering contemporary First Nations, Métis and Inuit voices) had the opportunity to take part in the Aboriginal drumming apprenticeship thanks to the Centre's team. Blue Sky Community Healing.
Drum creations
In preparation for the activity, the school soaked the skins in tobacco water for 24 hours and then prepared the area to protect the skins (and drums) by placing them on towels.
When the day came, the creation of the drums began with the offer of tobacco to the Centre's team. Blue Sky Community Healing and Mother Nature. Cindy Crowe, Lodge Keeper and Centre General Manager Blue Sky Community Healingexplains to the students that "to make a drum, you need a positive mindset".
With this in mind, the students stretched the skin delicately over the wooden circle, and tightened it around with the skin straps. With their drums completed, it was time to create the sticks, made from a wooden stick, baked goods and sheep's wool.
Once the drums have been made and wrapped in a strip of material, Ms. Crowe explains the importance of letting them dry, drum side down, for optimum results. In addition, they should not be played before the birth ceremony.
To conclude, the students recited a prayer or thanksgiving to the Creator and placed tobacco on their drums for four days, one day for each Cartesian direction, starting in the East. Tradition also dictates that any materials used that come from Mother Nature must be returned to her, so the scraps were returned to the source.
The birth of drums
A week after creating the drums, the students travelled to Neebing to the Centre Blue Sky Healing Community for the drum birth ceremony. It began with a smudge ceremony. Then, in small groups, the students took part in the ceremony, holding their drums up as Mrs. Crowe, supported by Cynthia Nault and Samantha Crowe, placed tobacco on top. The Centre's team then sang the birth song, playing their drums so close to the students' that the tobacco bounced and danced on the surface. Then, the "umbilical cord" of the drum was cut, and added to the tobacco in an offering to Mother Nature.
Finally, the students gathered to beat their new drums and let out a shout in each direction, starting in the east. It all came together with a group performance of the travel song on their drums.
More photos of the creation and birth of the drums
