Drumming
“For Indigenous people in present-day British Columbia, drums are more than communication tools and musical instruments; they are tools for a lifelong connection to and relationship with all living things and the Creator.
Many drum teachings by First Nations in BC use the circle to represent balance and equality, wholeness and connection. The circle is unbroken and made of equal, connected, and infinite points. The Creator is the center, around which all living things—including humans, sit. Each animal, plant, and human is the same distance from this center and has a unique and direct connection to it. The drum voices our connection to all creation when we drum and strengthens our connection to each other when we drum together.
Circular drums are made by stretching an animal hide over a wooden frame that can be small enough to fit in a child’s hand or large enough to seat a six-member host drum at powwow.” from: https://www.indigenousbc.com/stories/the-drum-heartbeat-of-our-indigenous-cultures/
Local Knowledge Keepers share the gift of the drum:
Local Indigenous knowledge keepers Jessie Everson, Shannon Campbell, Daryle Mills, JoAnn Restoule, David Dawson, Mavis Aubichon and Jaime Rosario share their connection and teachings to singing and the drum. Our knowledge keepers are sacred gifts within our School District 71 community.
Knowledge Keeper, JoAnn Restoule supported by Indigenous Support Workers, Jeannie McDonald and Filipe Andrade, share drum teachings with the students and staff of Mark R. Isfeld.
Colleen Devlin’s Aboriginal K-1 Class singing and drumming to Fly Like an Eagle. This song was shared with Colleen and her class by elder Jackie Finnie through the Aboriginal Headstart program. Colleen and her students added extra verses about some of the animals that they know.
A̱m’lala sa Ḵ̓umux̱se’ was created in July 2018 for Indigenous Education (School District 71) to be sung by all students to celebrate Kwakwaka’wakw culture and language. A̱m’lala sa Ḵ̓umux̱se’ translates as ‘Play Song of the K’omoux’ and speaks to the great land “ila a hii” and the powerful ocean and rivers “skoo kum chuck” that are here within the lands of the K’omoux. The song was released into our School District in a ceremony held during a Professional Development Day on February 15, 2019.
Click here for the A̱m’lala sa Ḵ̓umux̱se’ song, history, and protocols.
